By Our Reporter
Motorists and commuters plying the Akure/Ifon-Benin highway in Ondo state have condemned the federal government for abandoning the road and allowing it to deteriorate to the advantage of criminals .
The federal road, which serves as a gateway and fastest between the Ondo and Edo states had remained in a deplorable condition for a long time which now needs urgent attention by the government.
Our correspondent reports that motorists, commuters, and heavy duty vehicles conveying goods ply the road which has further worsened its condition and leading to a very long traffic hold up.
A cross section of motorists and commuters, who spoke on the development, 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.”
Failed portion of the road
According to him, it was embarrassing and unfortunate for the Owo/Ifon-Benin road to have deteriorated to that level without government’s intervention.
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 do 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’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 , 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.
Reacting, Engr. Olajide Hussein, the acting federal controls of works, Ondo state said, “about three days ago we had a massive failure of this carriage way, where the traffic was affected, when we called upon, we immediately swung into action in conjunction with FERMA to easy the flow traffic.
“Now we have carried out the full level of the damage on the road with permanent solution which will soon be carried out to prevent such of currency in future.
“I will like to advise motorists, commuters to exercise caution and patient on the road. Besides, residents around here discriminately pure their refuse on the entrance of the carriage cover which couldn’t allow water to flow. Residents of this area should be mindful of this.”
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