Mr Sayo Alagbe is a media practitioner cum public affairs analyst. He’s based in Ogbomoso, and speaks to TheTabloid.net on the plight of travellers on Oyo-Ogbomoso Road. Excerpts
Can you share your view on the state of Oyo-Ogbomoso road?
This is not the best of time for Ogbomoso inhabitants and the motorists. From gridlock to constant accidents between trucks and public transporters and the pedestrians. It is a constant nightmare that has refused to cease.
Is it that alarming?
The deplorable condition of the highway has thrown Ogbomoso into a state of unrest and ghost of its former self. It is not just an issue of inconvenience for local commuters; it has far-reaching consequences beyond physical descriptions and literary allusions. It affects the entire engagements, entertainment, economic, religion activities and socio-political landscape of the town. The chaos caused by the gridlock has also drawn attention to the local political leaders, many of whom hold federal elective positions and appointments.
How do you mean?
The people cannot but question their socio-political leaders’ roles and relevance in finding lasting solutions to the problem; as the damage caused by the diversion of traffic from the major federal roads to state and local government constructed roads, are devastated by heavy traffics on them, caused heavy duty trucks and petro tankers. This has brought about disruption in daily plans and movement charts of community members.
What was the condition of the road in the past?
Significantly, the highway was once a vital artery that connects the northern states of Nigeria to the Southwest axis enroute Ibadan, Lagos and Ogun State and their boosting their major hubs of economic activity. Motorists coming from the northern states who cannot access the major road to Ibadan and Lagos or those en route to Lagos through Ogbomoso have found themselves resort to alternative routes, penetrating and destroying once beautiful township roads. These township roads, which were never designed to handle such heavy traffic, are being overburdened, stressed, eroded, leading to further deterioration of the town’s infrastructure, general peace, and overall aesthetic.
What is the social effect?
It has brought about negative implications on Ogbomosoland – which now looks isolated like the aftermath of devastation. Insightful is the fact that businesses have been paralyzed, the pedestrians are being subjected to untold hardship and suffering due to the denied accessibility, and commuters are forced to endure long, arduous journeys through roads riddled with potholes, debris, and flood whenever it rains. It is all muddy affair! The lack of maintenance and attention to these roads has transformed what should be a basic public service into significant issues that impact the day-to-day life of every resident of Ogbomoso and its environment.
What are the people saying?
The people of Ogbomoso have been pushed to the wall. They are now calling on their elected officials to come together and contribute to repairing the roads on their own, without waiting for the intervention of the Federal Ministry of Works or the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA). This is not only shameful or ridiculous, it is inhumane. The people are beginning to realize that relying on federal agents or bodies, which have consistently failed to address the issue, may not be the most effective strategy. Instead, they are urging the various association or community leaders to pool resources, mobilize local efforts, and engage in collaborative problem-solving; to bring the roads back to life and safe haven to play.
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