Residents and road users in Abule Oko, Oke-Ayo, Magboro, Ogun State, have decried the worsening condition of the community road, describing it as dangerous, slippery and a threat to lives and livelihoods, particularly during the rainy season.
NewsWatch Metro gathered during a visit to the community on Tuesday that the road, which stretches from Abule Oko to Cele Bus Stop and connects areas such as Oke-Ayo, Igaun and Makogi, has deteriorated significantly over the years, making movement difficult for commuters, motorists, traders and residents.
Our correspondents observed that following a recent heavy rainfall, the road became nearly impassable, forcing some residents to remove their footwear before accessing the market.
A commercial motorcyclist, identified simply as Abubakar, told NewsWatch Metro that the road was previously manageable after community youths made efforts to patch it but has since deteriorated.
“When I first started working here, the road was not like this. Community youths fixed it, and the movement was easy. But now, the road has become completely bad, especially during this rainy season,” he said.
Abubakar added that he had not witnessed any government intervention since he began working in the area. He noted that although a section of the road near Magboro Main Market was recently repaired, residents were unsure whether the work was carried out by the government or a private individual.
“The truth is, I am not from here, and I have not seen or heard of any attempt by the government to fix this road. We can only pray that the government does what is right,” he added.
Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the road had been in a deplorable condition for many years, with only temporary interventions such as occasional grading by the Community Development Association, which he described as ineffective.
“The road has been like this for many years. What they do is just grade it once in a while, maybe twice a year, and that does not solve anything,” the resident said.
The resident further alleged that past efforts by two organisations to rehabilitate the road were unsuccessful after a community leader reportedly demanded a financial settlement before work could commence.
Traders at Abule Oko Market also said the situation worsens during rainfall, turning the road into a muddy and hazardous path for pedestrians and motorists.
“In most cases, people fall and sustain injuries. Motorcycles lose balance, and even cars struggle to pass,” a trader said.
“Accidents happen a lot. When cars try to avoid potholes or slippery sections, they lose control and hit motorcycles. I have seen people sustain serious injuries such as broken legs, broken arms and head wounds,” Abubakar added.
The traders further lamented that the development had negatively affected economic activities in the area, with many reporting a sharp decline in patronage due to the difficulty customers face in accessing the market.
“This road is very important to us. If it is repaired, people will still come even when it rains,” a trader identified as Alamu said.
He added, “Many traders have already left because of low patronage. When traders leave, buyers will go elsewhere, even though everything they need is available here.”
Another trader, Mummy Pemisire, recounted how a fish seller recently slipped, fell and broke her arm while attempting to access the market.
However, when contacted, the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said road rehabilitation projects across the area were being handled in phases, noting that several roads within Magboro and adjoining communities had already been repaired.
“We have done a lot of work in some corridors. Our people are still working, but we cannot fix all the roads at the same time. It is one step at a time,” Akinmade said.
He assured residents that all roads remained important to the government and appealed for patience, adding that the affected areas would eventually receive attention.
