Residents of Ogun Community in Distress as Road Conditions Worsen and Desperate Calls for Help Grow Louder
Residents and commercial transporters in the Magboro community of Ogun State’s Obafemi Owode Local Government Area are facing significant challenges due to the deplorable condition of the road connecting their community to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The inhabitants, particularly those residing in Powerline, Gasline, Makogi, and Igodo areas, have expressed their frustration and hardship when traversing this road to reach their destinations within the community.A firsthand assessment of the road’s condition revealed numerous potholes, which exacerbate during the rainy season. Our correspondent witnessed several vehicles becoming immobilized at various points along the road, starting from beneath the bridge at Magboro Bus Stop.Jamiu Ayeni, a bus driver, recounted his recent ordeal of getting stuck in one of the potholes during a weekend downpour and voiced his weariness, stating, “I’m exhausted from traveling on this road. How much can I charge passengers to endure this kind of suffering?”Another driver, identified as Dimeji, residing in Gasline Estate, expressed frustration at the expenses incurred in repairing his vehicle due to the road’s poor condition. He lamented, “You’ll end up spending all your earnings to fix your car because of this bad road. It’s surprising to know that there are many affluent individuals living in this community. I wonder how they cope because they drive expensive cars.”Taiwo, a resident, disclosed to PUNCH Metro on Monday that the community had resorted to pooling funds to contribute towards asphalting the road in an attempt to alleviate the situation. However, he expressed disappointment with the lack of substantial government support, saying, “As a community, we are doing our best to make some improvements, but we haven’t seen much assistance from the government so far. This road has been in this state for about three years. Our local government is virtually absent in this area. We appeal to them for help.”The road’s dilapidated state has discouraged people from residing in the community, Taiwo further revealed. He added, “We already endure severe gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, and now we encounter another major problem within our community. Prior to the election, government officials made promises to address the road issue, and we are still waiting for them to fulfill their commitments. The responsibility of handling the Magboro road lies with the state government.”Responding to inquiries on Wednesday, Adesina Ogunmola, Chairman of Obafemi Owode LGA, acknowledged the government’s efforts but acknowledged that the Magboro Road is one of several community roads in need of intervention. Ogunmola stated, “We have made significant strides in terms of road construction and rehabilitation in Obafemi Owode LGA. At the beginning of the year, we embarked on extensive road grading and provided access roads to communities within the LGA. However, due to the current rainy season, grading activities have been halted. We have established a committee that will address road issues during the dry season when proper grading can resume. Magboro is among the areas identified for government intervention, and we remain committed to our efforts.”