Motorists, commuters groan as Owo/Ifon-Benin Federal road deteriorates

By Akintunde Jacobs, Akure

Motorists and commuters plying the Owo/Ifon-Benin in Ondo state, Federal road are groaning over the deplorable condition of the road lamenting that the road has become a safe haven for criminals and kidnappers because of its dilapidated state.

The federal road, which serves as a gateway and fastest route between the Ondo and Edo states part of the country had remained in a deplorable condition for a long time which is now needs urgent attention by the government.

Dozens of motorists, commuters, and heavy duty vehicles conveying goods such as vegetables, fruits, livestock, agricultural products, building materials and host of others products pass through the road further worsening its condition.

Besides, pouring of refuse on the road side by the Ifon community which led to the caving of the busy road had also added to the worsen condition of the road. However, the development has been causing serious traffic jam on the road.

A cross section of motorists and commuters, who spoke with Nigerian NewsDirect on the development at the weekend, described the current state of the road as a “national embarrassment” and “nightmare for road users.”

A motorist, Doyin Orisamolade said, “we don’t have government in Ondo state, we don’t have government in Nigeria, see the condition of this road now, how much is it going to cost them to help us fix the road?, to fix this small bridge is now a problem for Ondo and Federal Government. Ore-Benin is not good and the only road we use to pass now has been damaged by all these Dangote trucks.

“We are appealing now to both Ondo and federal government to come to our aide in order to fix this road, we don’t ask for money from them but they should come and fix this bad road for us.”

According to him, it was embarrassing and unfortunate for the Owo/Ifon-Benin road to have deteriorated to that level without government intervention since all this while.

Another motorists, Toyin Maito, who also spoke with journalists said, “the government says it wants to fight insecurity and when you have a road that is as bad as that one, how would you fight insecurity because when you stay at one point for a long time due to the bad road,  hoodlums take the advantage to attack commuters.

“Police, FRSC and soldiers disturb us on this particular road, collecting illegal money from us and we don’t have means of survival except this driving. So, we are calling on government to help us fix the road,” he said.

Maito said, the heavy vehicular movements from Owo-Ifon and Ifon towards the Benin in Edo state had placed a lot of pressure on the road.

He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to find urgent solution to the situation.

“This is very unfortunate and frustrating. I also feel that the state and the local governments where the road passes can, in the meantime, provide some interventions by filling the bad portions with laterite so that our people can have peace on this road.

“I’m calling on our ‘Talk and Do’ Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, to use his privileged position as a matter of urgency to do something about the road because if you leave it like this, Ondo State will continue to sink money in tackling security challenges occasioned,” Maito said.

A commuter too, Ibrahim Mohammed, who usually plies the road described it as a “deathtrap”. We are appealing to the Federal Government to fix the road for us. This road needs government attention.”

According to him, most commercial drivers were no more willing to put their vehicles on the road because of its deplorable condition.

While reacting, Engr. Olajide Hussein, the Acting Federal Controller of Works, Ondo state office, said, “about three days ago, we had a massive failure of this carriage way. When we were called upon, we immediately swung into action in conjunction with FERMA to ease the flow of traffic. Now we have carried out a full assessment of the level of damage on the road and the permanent solution, which will soon be carried out to prevent such reoccurrence in future.”

Hussein, however, advised motorists, commuters to exercise caution and patience on the road saying permanent solution would soon commence on the road.