Ogbomoso’s Crumbling Roads: A Call for Immediate Government Intervention – Blessing Afolabi
Ogbomoso, a historic city in southwest Nigeria and the second-largest city in Oyo State with a population nearing 700,000, has become a death trap for commuters. Once celebrated for its impressive road network, Ogbomoso’s roads have fallen into disrepair, transforming the city’s once proud infrastructure into a nightmare for motorists.
Years ago, the roads of Ogbomoso were considered among the best in the region. However, this reputation began to fade when internal roads were forced to bear the brunt of heavy traffic after the federal highways became severely dilapidated. The Ogbomoso-Ilorin road, originally constructed during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, is now riddled with deep potholes—some so large they could swallow a cow.
This year alone, I have experienced two incidents where my car tire burst on this very road, highlighting the gravity of the situation. The Ogbomoso-Ilorin road, which is crucial for connecting the southwest to the north-central regions of Nigeria, was intended to link Ogbomoso to Oyo and Ibadan. Yet, despite 24 years of construction efforts, the 51-kilometer stretch remains incomplete, leaving commuters and businesses in limbo.
The road’s economic significance cannot be overstated. It serves as a vital link for thousands of trucks and tankers that move goods between Oyo and Kwara states, forming a key artery between the south and the north. It is alarming that the government has not prioritized the repair and completion of this road, given its impact on trade and commerce.
The situation within Ogbomoso itself is no better. Roads like the one passing from Takie to Caretaker have been completely destroyed. Lives have been lost in recent months due to accidents involving trailers that have toppled in front of Bowen Teaching Hospital and the Nigeria Baptist Theological Seminary. This tragic loss of life underscores the urgent need for intervention, even last week a truck was said to fall on a moving boss, so unfortunate, the families with bear consequences of bad roads which our government failed to fix even though they paid taxes on everything, where is the money going to? Funds recovered from looters where is it? Subsidy was recently removed, where is the fund? Oh that will be a story for another day.
With federal roads in such dire condition, motorists have resorted to using the city’s internal roads as alternatives. Unfortunately, these roads, once a source of pride, have also begun to deteriorate under the pressure of heavy vehicular traffic. Ogbomoso now faces a situation where both federal and internal roads are almost impassable, paralyzing the city’s economy.
Senator Fatai Buhari, who represents Oyo North, has called on the federal government to intervene. While his efforts are commendable, more must be done. I urge Hon. Olamijuwon Alao Akala to take up this cause and continue pressing for federal action to save our roads. The legacy of our heroes should not be forgotten or buried under crumbling infrastructure.
At the state level, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin has raised motions regarding the state of our internal roads, but other members of the House of Assembly must also intensify their efforts. Our town’s development hinges on these roads. How can businesses thrive when a 30-minute journey now takes up to five hours due to bad roads? The impact on local commerce is devastating.
I call on Governor Seyi Makinde, a known advocate for development, to swiftly address this crisis. Setting up a committee or empowering local government authorities to tackle these internal road issues would be a historic step that the people of Ogbomoso would forever appreciate. Governor, sir, we need urgent action to repair our roads, and we believe you are the leader who can make it happen.
Our vehicles are breaking down due to the poor state of the roads, forcing us to visit mechanics regularly for repairs like alignments and shaft replacements. This is not sustainable. The government must step in, and quickly. The people of Oyo State, particularly Ogbomoso need functioning roads, and it should not matter whether it is the federal or state government that fixes them.
This plea is not about assigning blame, but about ensuring the welfare of the good people of Ogbomoso. I believe this appeal will open the eyes of the federal government, and I trust swift action will follow to alleviate the suffering of our people.
Blessing Afolabi (Blessmas).
Blessing Afolabi writes from Ogbomoso, Oyo State. He is a digital journalist and the president of Blessmas Media.
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