Stakeholders in Iseyin, Oyo State, have raised concerns over the deplorable condition of the Iseyin-Abeokuta road, urging the Federal Government to intervene and prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods. The road, which serves several agrarian communities in Oyo and Ogun states, has deteriorated significantly, causing suffering for farmers, truck drivers, and other road users. The stakeholders inspected the failed sections of the road, highlighting the need for urgent attention from the Federal Ministry of Works.
The road was last reconstructed during the first term of former President Olusegun Obasanjo's administration, but has since been neglected. Segun Adeleke, President of Ebedi Frontliners, Iseyin, led the inspection of the collapsed section at Oja-Agbe, emphasizing the road's importance to the region. He noted that many farm produce get spoilt along the road as trailers and trucks get stuck or fall by the roadside due to the collapsed sections.
Adeleke called on the Honourable Minister for Works, Engr. David Umahi, to visit the road and assess its condition. He highlighted the collapse of another bridge at Ado-Awaye, as well as other points along the road to Abeokuta. The stakeholders' concerns were echoed by Saheed Alaran, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for the Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Kajola, and Iwajowa Federal Constituency.
Alaran assured residents that the Federal Government would give the road the required attention, commending President Bola Tinubu for his administration's efforts in constructing the coastal road and rehabilitating existing roads across the country. Other stakeholders, including Dasola Fadiran and Yemisi Iranloye, also expressed concern over the road's condition, calling for a "state of emergency" on the Iseyin-Abeokuta road.
The stakeholders emphasized that urgent rehabilitation of the road would help protect agricultural produce, ease movement, and reduce losses being incurred by communities and businesses along the corridor. The road's poor condition has significant economic implications, affecting farmers, truck drivers, and other road users who rely on the highway for their livelihoods.
The Iseyin-Abeokuta road is a critical infrastructure that connects Oyo and Ogun states, and its rehabilitation is crucial for the region's economic development. The stakeholders' call for urgent intervention highlights the need for the Federal Government to prioritize the road's maintenance and repair.
The condition of the Iseyin-Abeokuta road has sparked concerns about the safety of road users and the impact on the local economy. The Federal Government's response to the stakeholders' concerns will be crucial in determining the road's future and the well-being of the communities that rely on it.
Key points
- The Iseyin-Abeokuta road has collapsed in several sections, including a bridge at Oja-Agbe and another at Ado-Awaye.
- Stakeholders are calling for urgent intervention from the Federal Government to prevent further loss of lives and livelihoods.
- The road's rehabilitation is crucial for protecting agricultural produce, easing movement, and reducing losses being incurred by communities and businesses along the corridor.
