Osun monarch, residents groan over bad roads, collapsed Ile-Ife, Kajola bridge

Say bad roads claim lives, cause robbery attacks
A traditional ruler of Akile Eleweran, in Ife Central Local Council of Osun State, Oba Olusegun Taiwo Makinde, Olu of Kajola, and residents of Ile-Ife have called on the state government to come to their aid of the community over the deplorable network of roads in the area and its environs.

They lamented that motorists and other road users are passing through harrowing experiences since an old bridge along the road collapsed.

The residents also complained over deplorable state of roads, which have become death traps, since the commencement of the rainy season.

According to them, about two road users died after their vehicle and a motorcyclist fell inside a ditch following the collapsed bridge.

Oba Makinde told The Guardian that armed robbers have been taking advantage of the poor road network to rob motorists and passengers, saying it was high time the state government came to their rescue.

According to the monarch, the road between Ooni Layout and Eleweran area, which started from junction Modomo till Mayfair roundabout, is riddled with pot holes that have been causing accidents.

The collapsed bridge. PHOTO: TIMOTHY AGBOR

“Some suspected herders have been robbing people on the bridge. This Ede road has become a death trap for all of us. There is no road for us to pass again. It is affecting our journey in this area. Most commercial drivers refuse to enter our community because of bad roads. They prefer taking Ibadan road and we have to spend extra money to get home.

“The state government should come to our aid. The bridge is old and has collapsed. We have been putting danger signs by tying a rope around it. Notwithstanding, motorists, who are new in the area, have been falling into the ditch there.

“At least, two persons died in March this year inside this collapsed bridge, the driver of a vehicle and a commercial motorcyclist. Some people now take advantage of the bad road to rob road users. Government should come to our aid,” he added.

A trader at Mayfair roundabout in Ile-Ife, Gabriel Adesanya, said the road is impassable, adding that motorists who dare to pass through have their vehicles damaged.

According to him, the poor condition of the road is responsible for traders recording low sales as drivers and motorcyclists now take passengers through alternative routes.