Residents, traders and commuters who ply the Iberekodo-Mawuko Road in the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State have called on the state government to help fix their road because it now puts them at the mercy of kidnappers.
The residents, who spoke with on Tuesday in separate interviews, lamented that the bad state of the road has given kidnappers room to operate freely.
They noted that the road had also crumbled business activities in the area as many homeowners were deserting their homes for more accessible communities.
Our correspondent, who visited the area, observed that parts of the road hosting the Ogun State Water Corporation, Arakanga, the Arakanga Forest Reserve, and some private companies, were in a deplorable state, with several damaged portions along the stretch of road.
A resident identified simply as Abioye told our correspondent that there were fears that kidnappers are lurking around the road.
She said, “The bad state of the road is affecting our businesses, and sales of our goods have dropped because when the road was in good condition, drivers of trucks, tippers and cars often came to this area to wash their vehicles. But since the road got bad, we are not making sales like before.
“There is also the issue of kidnapping. There are reports that some kidnappers are beginning to lurk around this area. Some weeks ago, someone was shot by unknown gunmen in this area.”
She noted that some members of the community had abandoned their homes to move to other communities where they can access basic amenities.
“This road connects Opeji, Eruwa and Alabata, but the bad state of the road has reduced movement. It is not only traders that are lamenting; some homeowners have deserted their homes for a better community due to the bad road,” Abioye added.
A commercial motorcyclist identified simply as Abdulahi, who plies the Iberekodo, Mawuko, Ajegunle, and Abule-Ayo areas of the road, said the road had contributed to the deterioration of his health due to the daily stress he encountered and his motorcycle had also worn out quickly because of the bad road.
“If you pass through the road from Iberekodo to Mawuko, it is so bad that everywhere is filled with erosion, potholes and mud, which often result in body pains when I return home from work. I often find it difficult to get up for work the next day,” Abdulahi said.
Another resident who deals in granites, Oluwasegun Adeyemo, noted that the bad road had caused his business to come to a halt because the road linking the river where he and his crew often dredge sand had been damaged, and they cannot carry out their business.
Adeyemo said, “The road that links to where we used to dredge sand has been damaged, and we can no longer access it, which has affected our business. Whenever it rains on this road, all vehicles get stranded because a part of the road is almost divided into two.
“It was the intervention of a company around here that made this road motorable by filling this part with granites. There are many instances of people falling from bikes, including some people transporting their goods.”
He appealed to the state government to come to their aid and fix the road to alleviate the daily suffering encountered on the road.
When contacted about the issue of kidnapping, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, said the police had not received any of such report.
“I have not received that report. As soon as I receive it, I will let you know,” Odutola said.
The Special Adviser to the Ogun Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akisanya, said there were no plans to fix the road this year as the government did not have the resources to do so.
“Not this year, possibly in 2024/2025. We have limited funds that need to be spread across the 20 local government areas. We just need to be patient,” he said.
