Ogun residents lament bad state of roads

Residents of Ijoko, Abule, Itoki and Agbado Area of Ogun State, on Monday, decried the poor state of
roads within their communities and urged government to come to their rescue.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews that the roads in their area had been neglected and abandoned for years.

Mr Mukaila Ahmed, a commercial bus operator, told NAN that the road had been in deplorable condition for many years.

``The road has caused a lot of damages to our vehicles; many of our union members have relocated their buses to other area because of the condition of the road.

``The road has not been given attention that it deserves, may be because prominent politicians and government officials are not residing in the area.

``People don't patronise commercial buses, they complain of body pains, so they prefer to take motorcycle, popularly called okada because it can always find its way,’’ he said.

According to him, motorcycle operators do not find it easy navigating their way through the road.

Mr Femi Bankole, a banker and resident of Abule community, said that for the past one year, he had not been going to work with his car because of the state of the road.

``I stopped going to work with my car because the road has caused more damage to the car.

``During the rainy season we have to trek from one bus stop to another because everywhere is flooded,” Bankole said.

He urged the state and local governments to come to their aide, adding that they have not enjoyed the dividend of democracy.

Mrs Stella Ijeoma, a pharmacist, said that the condition of the road had stopped people from patronising her shop, adding that the roads had become a nightmare to the residents.

``Many people have abandoned their houses, cars and businesses because of the poor state of the road. The state of the road has made it difficult for people from other community to patronise my shop.

``The deplorable condition of the road is something that should give a serious minded government a lot of concern.

``I want the state and the local government to wake up from their slumber and begin rehabilitation work on this road before more damage is done,” she said.

Ijeoma pleaded with the Ifo Local Government and Gov. Ibikunle Amosun, to come to their rescue.

Mr Funso Lawanson, a teacher, complained that both the local government and the state Ggvernment had neglected the road for reasons best known to them.

``I spent extra money coming back home from work because of the bad state of the road. I don’t know why we continue coming out to vote during election, when we already know that our needs will not be met.

He appealed to the State Government and the Ifo Local Government to deliver the dividend of democracy to the people.