The Odo-Ogun Aderonmu community in Oyo State has appealed to the Federal Government to urgently rehabilitate a collapsed section of the Iseyin–Ado-Awaye–Abeokuta road. The road, a vital transport corridor linking 11 local government areas across Oyo, Ogun, and Lagos states, has been in a deplorable condition for over six years. About 80 percent of the road has been washed away, causing a major bottleneck.
Chief Teslim Oladimeji, a traditional leader in the community, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday. He commended the Federal Road Safety Corps and other security agencies for maintaining a presence around the collapsed section, saying their efforts had helped prevent further accidents. However, motorists unfamiliar with the terrain remain at serious risk, particularly when attempting to maneuver through the narrow section of the road.
A youth leader in the community, Mr Suleiman Alaba, said the road had shown signs of structural failure about six years ago before eventually collapsing. The community had alerted the government about the impending danger through the local government authority, stressing that the road was under the responsibility of the Federal Government. Alaba described the road as a death trap, saying some sections had completely collapsed while the remaining portion was too narrow to safely accommodate vehicles traveling in opposite directions.
Alaba recalled that a motorcyclist recently fell into the damaged section during a heavy downpour and lost his life, while his motorcycle was swept away by floodwater. The community found his dead body and motorcycle after three days of searching along the river bank. The youth leader pleaded with the government to urgently come to their rescue on this road.
Assistant Corps Commander Mayowa Odewo, Unit Commander of FRSC Iseyin Unit Command, urged motorists to comply with safety directives issued by road safety personnel stationed at the scene. Odewo said only about 20 percent of the road's total width remained accessible to motorists and pedestrians, while about 80 percent had been washed away. The situation had made access to the other side extremely difficult and posed a serious risk to road users.
The road is heavily used by trucks transporting agricultural produce to Ogun and Lagos states, making urgent intervention necessary. Odewo said the damage had gone beyond what the communities could handle. The residents urged the Federal Government to prioritize the rehabilitation of the road to prevent further loss of lives, restore the movement of goods and people, and reconnect communities along the Oyo-Ogun-Lagos corridor.
The community's appeal is timely, as the road's condition continues to pose a significant threat to the lives of motorists and residents. The Federal Government's intervention is necessary to address the deplorable condition of the Iseyin–Ado-Awaye–Abeokuta road and ensure the free flow of goods and people across the region.
Key points
- The Iseyin–Ado-Awaye–Abeokuta road has been in a deplorable condition for over six years, with about 80 percent of the road washed away.
- The road's collapse has caused a major bottleneck, posing a serious risk to road users, particularly motorists unfamiliar with the terrain.
- The community has urged the Federal Government to prioritize the rehabilitation of the road to prevent further loss of lives and restore the movement of goods and people.
