Residents of Ijere, Pakuro, Magbon, and several other communities in the Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State are expressing frustration over the deplorable state of the roads connecting their communities. Despite their efforts to maintain the roads through contributions and tolls, the roads remain in poor condition, causing significant challenges for the residents.
According to Jimoh Owolabi, Chairman of the Community Development Committee, the communities have been contributing funds annually, amounting to three to four million naira, to repair the roads, but their efforts have not yielded the desired outcome. Additionally, there has been a lack of response from government agencies, including the Ministry of Works and the local government, despite numerous meetings and letters sent to them.
Moruf Sanyaolu, an elder in the community, emphasized the lack of government intervention as the primary cause of the community’s struggles. He highlighted the adverse effects of the poor road conditions, including isolation and economic difficulties for the residents.
In a related development, residents in the Ogunrun area of Mowe lamented the bad state of the community road and the collection of tolls by various groups, which they described as “impotent.” Despite continuous payment of tolls, the road remains in poor condition, leading to damage to vehicles, especially during downpours.
Residents expressed frustration over the toll collection, labeling it as extortion and calling for government intervention to repair the road. However, the Chairman of Ogunrun Community Development Council clarified that the maintenance fee charged at the toll was not extortion but an alternative means of developing the road until government intervention.
Efforts to reach the state Commissioner of Works and the Chairman of Obafemi-Owode Local Government for reactions proved unsuccessful, as calls made to their telephones were not responded to, and text messages had yet to be replied to.