Motorists demand urgent repairs on Ogun road

Residents and drivers using the Sango-Idiroko Road in Ogun State are calling on the Ogun State Government to quickly repair damaged parts of the road.

The commuters, who spoke with PUNCH Metro during a visit to the area on Friday, said the bad condition makes travel hard and worsens traffic jams.

They mentioned that the damaged areas of the busy road have turned into a daily nightmare for drivers and residents.

During the visit, our reporter saw many potholes just after entering the road from the Sango Ota Bus Stop. Many drivers had to slow down to get through the damaged sections.

The Ojuore end of the road to Fowobi Junction has also collapsed, causing serious traffic jams as drivers struggled to get through the narrow passable area.

Motorists said this situation has been going on for months, leading to frequent vehicle breakdowns and longer travel times.

A motorist, who gave his name as Azeez Osuolale, said the road's bad condition has become a major problem for users.

"We use this road every day, but it keeps getting worse. During rush hour, you can spend more than an hour on a journey that should normally take just a few minutes. Many vehicles have developed faults because of the potholes, and commercial drivers are passing the extra cost to passengers," he said.

Another driver, Mrs Oluwaseun Adeyemi, said the damaged parts of the road have gotten worse because of the rainy season.

"When it rains, the potholes are filled with water, making it hard for drivers to see how deep they are. Some vehicles have broken down after hitting them. We are begging the government to fix this road before it leads to more accidents," she said.

A resident who wanted to stay anonymous also mentioned that the bad parts of the road have become a safety issue, especially at night when vehicles have to slow down.

"Once drivers reduce their speed because of the potholes, they become easy targets. We have heard of cases where criminals take advantage of the situation to attack or rob road users, particularly at night. This road is too important to be left in this condition," the resident said.

PUNCH Metro also noticed that construction of a flyover bridge is happening around the Ojuore area near the Living Faith Bible Church. Heavy construction equipment is on site.

While praising the government for the ongoing project, drivers urged the authorities not to ignore other damaged parts of the highway.

They specifically called for urgent repairs on the stretch between Onibuku, Baba Ode, and Goro, saying it is another important section in need of fixing.

A resident, Sesan Lawal, who also runs a motorcycle business in the area, said, "The government is trying with the flyover project, and we appreciate that. But other parts of this road also need urgent attention. The Onibuku, Baba Ode, and Goro areas are in terrible shape. If nothing is done soon, the damage will worsen, and drivers will keep suffering unnecessarily," another commuter, Sulaimon Lawal, added.

The state Commissioner for Works, Ade Akinsanya, could not be reached for comments. Calls to her phone on Sunday went unanswered, and a text message had not received a reply by the time this report was completed.