r Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State

Gbenro Adesina/Ibadan

Residents of Ogbomosholand in Oyo State have called on the Federal Government to expedite action on the construction of the Ogbomosho-Oyo Section of the Ibadan-Ilorin road so as to ensure its completion by August 1, 2018.

The residents made this appeal on Monday June 11 2018 at a press briefing held the Soun Ogunlola Hall, Oja-Igbo, Ogbomosho, which had in attendance religious leaders, community leaders, sectorian leaders, youth groups, market groups, traditionalists, indigenous groups, security chiefs, local government leaders and the representatives of the various tribes residing in Ogbomosholand.

Presenting an address to the newsmen on behalf of the residents, the Head of churches in Ogbomosholand, Dr. Isreal Olaniyan urged President Muhammadu Buhari and his Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, to immediately declare a state of emergency on the section of the road warning that failure to do so would attract a massive protest that would ground activities on the route.

Olaniyan said fixing the road would no doubt salvage the precious lives of Nigerians plying the road from the many dangers that the one way lane, Ogbomosho-Oyo road poses as well as aiding transportation and economic activities in the axis of the country that connects North and South.

Olaniyan who lamented that the road has not only become a death trap but a menace which claims more lives than HIV/AIDS and any other known deadly disease, alleging that no fewer than 780 lives are lost on the road annually.

According to him, “The Ogbomosho-Oyo section of the Ilorin-Ibadan express road which spans about 52 kilometres has a history of promises upon promises by successive governments. The latest promise being that of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration that the project will benefit from the Sukuk bond share of the loan to be disbursed to the Southwestern parts of the country in 2017. The construction of the dual carriage highway which started 18 years ago has left the Ilorin-Ogbomosho and Oyo-Ibadan portion in a particular deplorable condition while the Ogbomosho-Oyo axis of the express road is yet to be started. The situation has left no option for commuters than to continue to use the old Ogbomosho-Oyo road which is one lane road plied by vehicles of all sizes, going to and from the Northern and Western part of Nigeria. Consequently, the old Ogbomosho-Oyo road has become a death trap. In fact, the road claims more lives than HIV/AIDS or any other diseases does in this community.

He concluded, “Statistics at our disposal indicates that an average of 15 persons die on the road per week. When this is multiplied by fifty-two weeks a year, it indicates an average of 780 persons is lost annually on this road. When this is multiplied by 18 years since the road was awarded, it shows that an average of 14,040 persons have lost their lives on Ogbomosho-Oyo road. This is alarming and calls for urgent completion of the express road under construction. Mr. President sir, we know you are a man of your words, having promised that this project is a cardinal point in your government agenda, please ensure that the construction work is fast tracked and completed by August 1, 2018. We, Nigerians, must not only be guaranteed value for our taxes, but much more, value for our lives and properties. We hereby demand value for our lives and the lives of our fellow Nigerians plying Ogbomosho-Oyo road. We appeal that President Muhammadu Buhari fulfills his campaign promise to us”.

After the conference the people later marched peacefully to the palace of the Soun of Ogbomosho, PBA Jimoh Oyewumi, displaying placards with various inscriptions, expressing the plea to the government on the need to fix the road.

Receiving the people on behalf of the monarch, Are Ago of Ogbomosholand, Chief Samuel Sobalaje Otolorin thanked the people for their peaceful conduct and passion to make loss of lives a thing of the past on the road.