By Chidinma Ewunonu-Aluko, Ibadan
Some residents in Ibadan have deplored the condition of some community roads in Ibadan, calling on the Oyo State government to urgently intervene.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Ibadan reports that some of the roads which include that of Adeoyo State hospital and Mobile to Oni and Son’s Hospital, Ring Road, are in a state of disrepair.
The residents told NAN on Thursday that the state of the roads affected the residents, businesses, economy and overall safety of the people.
Mr Olakunle Oladunjoye, a resident, decried the bad condition of most inner roads in the metropolis.
He said that while the state government had executed rehabilitation and construction of a number of state roads, the same could not be said of the local government chairmen saddled with maintenance of trunk c roads.
According to him, the bad trunk c roads affect residents’ vehicles, including himself, to the extent that visits to the mechanics was now a weekly occurence.
“It is now better to go through the Orita market side to my office, wasting more fuel.
“The potholes, eroded surfaces have negatively impacted on residents, businesses, and the overall safety and economy of the area.
“It has affected my car seriously. I need to visit the mechanic workshop this morning for a check on my car.
“This is the area where we have government offices like Adeoyo Hospital, National Industrial Court, Court of Appeal, FIRS, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Federal High Court,” he said.
Oladunjoye appealed to the Oyo State Government to urgently come to the people’s rescue and fix the roads or compel the South-West Local Government in whose territory the roads are to rehabilitate the roads.
“We appreciate the government to also do the road like the one done within Bodija (New Bodija and old Bodija towards Ashi road).
“We need proper drainage systems on both sides of the road, right from the Adeoyo junction to Fodasis junction is in a very bad situation.
“We really plead with the governor to help us to fix the said roads,” he said.
Another commuter, Mr Remi Koleoso, expressed chagrin at the appalling condition of the Adeoyo- Fodacis road and the failure of the local government to fix roads in the area.
“The roads, especially the one leading from Ring road to Adeoyo hospital axis, is an outrage.
“We must demand accountability and this is the time for us to speak truth to power, to force real improvements in our critical infrastructure.
“This inaction benefits no one; it’s time for change,” he said.
Koleoso urged the Ibadan South-West Local Government, that is in charge of the area, to urgently intervene.
“They should help us out because this is the same route we take to the office on daily basis and more importantly there is a major state hospital in the area.
“If there is any emergency requiring a patient to be rushed to the hospital, do you think the patient can survive with the bad condition of the road?
“Government should help us out and save us from frequent visit to the mechanic workshop,” Koleoso said.
Also, Mrs Yinka Are, a public servant, decried the state of the road, describing it as an eye sore.
According to her, it’s shameful that a road leading to many government establishments and especially a state hospital is in this bad condition.
“It’s too bad that a road leading to the State hospital, where pregnant women deliver their babies, is in such a terrible state.
“Government at all levels: local and state, should urgently pay attention to the roads within the communities.
“We all have right to good infrastructures as citizens and Tax payers.
“The money to spend on food is now being diverted to repairs of vehicles; this is not fair to residents,” Are said.
Mrs Chioma Nwachukwu, a parent, said the road from Mobil junction to Concord School and Oni and Son’s Hospital, had terribly affected her health.
“I have developed serious leg pain since I started plying that road just few months ago.
“In fact, I’m always dejected when I think of passing the road daily and I don’t have any other choice because it’s the shortest route to my children’s school.
“The government should please fix the road as a matter of urgency,” she said.
Reacting, the Director of Works, Ibadan South-West LG, Mr Akeem Aderinto, said that the roads would soon be fixed.
“Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) for rehabilitation of Adeoyo roundabout to State hospital and tarring of Arapaja Estate to 7UP junction has been made.
“Also, BEME for construction of road network at State High Court junction to Oni and Sons Hospital and Mobil has been taken.
“That of Onisiniyan to Ojaoba and Iyaganku to Joyce B junction spur NTC have all been made and submitted to the government.
“We are now waiting for the approval of the state government and once it’s approved work will commence fully on the roads, hopefully by the end of October,” he said. (NAN)
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