Investigation: Road Users, Residents Lament Deplorable State Of Osogbo Roads

By Olabode Abolaji

Scores of road users and residents along some of the roads in major towns of Osun State,  especially Osogbo,  the state capital,  have continued to question the huge sum of money,  the government claimed to have expended on road construction.

This is because some of the constructed roads and rehabilitated ones have become badly decrepited and constituted a death trap.

Also,  the ten metres roads built in all the 30 Local Governments in state have abysmally gone bad less than 3 years it was built, despite its 15-year durability projection.

The Front of Ayegbaju Market in Osogbo

Findings by CityMirrorNews correspondents revealed that major highways like Olaiya, Oke-Fia, Ilesa Road as well as Old Garage to Ikirun Road, all in the Osogbo metropolis were ridden with potholes  until lately when the government mobilized its men to site for the relay of asphalt on it.

A Section of the Oke-Fia/Estate Road

CityMirrorNews reporter spoke with some commuters and road users who lamented the bad state of roads in the state and called on government to take urgent steps to quickly address the situation.

A Mini-Bus Driver popularly known as Korope, Mr Abideen Asimiyu stated that the state of roads with a host of bad portions is worrisome, despite government’s intervention since 2010.

According to him, it is unbelievable to see that a state where government claims of constructing so many roads still has in it major roads that are of a deplorable state.

A portion of the Gbongan Ibadan Road, Osogbo

“Since this government came, they have been constructing roads and we are happy about it. But the truth is that, so many of our roads are in a bad state and this is affecting our business.”

“We appreciate what the government has been doing but with some of these roads, the extent of their work and commitment is still not impacting well on the citizenry.”

Another Resident, Mr Kazeem Olajide told our reporter that it seems government has been insensitive to the situation.

He stressed that in a state where much more is committed to road infrastructure, most major roads are not motorable.

Mr Kazeem also noted that the government has been involved in a fire brigade approach to road rehabilitation especially when there are big events in town.

His words “Can you imagine that the Gbongan-Ibadan expressway which the Governor passes to and fro his office is in a gory state. The road is full of portholes and then, the governor sees it everyday and has refused to do anything about it.”

“Look at the Old Garage road built less than 2 years ago, it has been showing signs of dilapidation and that’s why you see government mobilizing its men to work on it in the past few days. If you are going to Agunbelewo junction immediately after the gate leading to the Government House, you will see a big porthole right after the bump, that is the situation across the state.”

“What you see is that during big occasions and events, government officials are there to fill it up and make it motorable. When President Muhammadu Buhari was on a day visit to Osogbo, you all saw how these roads were rehabilitated and fixed between 3 days.

Also, when the Governor’s mother burial was ongoing, you see how the Ilesa Road was, smooth and easy to pass. When you pass through them now, they are in a sorry state.”

The two respondents demand the immediate and prompt rehabilitation of roads to make it more motorable and as well as ensure regular observation of areas where bumps need to be fixed in order to ensure free flow of Traffic and aid longevity of vehicles and motorcycles.