‘Our road is a death trap’

Residents bemoan the deplorable state of Ikorodu-Sagamu Road in Ogijo
RESIDENTS of Ogijo in Sagamu Local Council of Ogun State have appealed to the state government to come to their rescue, concerning the wretched state of the ever-busy Ogijo community road.

The road, which leads to Sagamu expressway, is known as an alternative and faster route, connecting both Lagos and Ogun States.
The Ikorodu-Shagamu road has been acknowledged by many motorists as well as travellers as a gateway linking different states in the country. It also serves as a short-cut to Ijebu Ode, Sagamu, Itoikin and other communities outside the shores of Lagos.

The Odofin of Ogijo, Chief W.A.O Gbagbelu, said the road has been in its deplorable state right from the former governor, Gbenga Daniel’s regime. He urged Governor Amosun to include Ogijo which has 127 villages, 115 developed and 12 developing communities in his new agenda of creating a new Local Government Development Area (LGDA) in the state.

“The road, which has been in use for several years before the construction of the major expressway, is not being maintained,” he said.

Gbagbelu added that for decades, the towns under the Sagamu Local Council have not benefited in any way from the council.

A resident, Holy Michael, in a chat with The Guardian said, “It is quite hectic and strenuous plying the road daily’’. He added that he spends about four to five hours on the kilometer road due to the terrible state.

During a visit to the area by The Guardian, several cars and motorcyclists were seen striving to find their way out of the flooded road. A motorcyclist, Oahu Monday, who fell down with his passenger in the flood told The Guardian: “The governor has ignored and denied the people of Ogijo the necessary amenities we ought to enjoy as citizens of the nation”. He noted that, a kilometer road, from Ogijo to Phoenix Company Limited, which they charge N30 for, is now being taken for N100 due to the deplorable state of the road. He said the same thing applies to other routes in the community.

Another resident, Mr.Adekunle Taiwo, pointed out that, “There are several cases of death on the road. He cited a case of an accident on a particular route opposite the Community High School where a graduate was knocked down by a motorcycle a few days ago and he died instantly. He simply referred to the place as a “death trap.”

The Losi of Ogijo, Chief Jamiu Hassan, stated that during rainy seasons most of the residents are always indoors due to the poor condition of the road. “We need a culvert and a tarred road,” he pleaded.