Residents of Imala, in Ogun State’s Abeokuta North Local Government Area, have complained about the poor condition of the community’s approximately 7-kilometer road.
The villagers claimed that the road built by the late first Premier of the Western Region, Obafemi Awolowo, around 1959 before independence had been neglected over the years, becoming a thorn in the flesh of its everyday users due to its current poor condition.
They claimed that the bad condition of the road had harmed the community’s socioeconomic development and made life uncomfortable for the people.
One of the community leaders, Mr Steven Adetomiwa, told said on Tuesday that they could no longer remain silent about the hardships they face on the route on a daily basis.
Adetomiwa urged Abiodun for immediate help in putting their suffering behind them.
He added that they had written to proper authorities several times about the terrible road, but nothing had been done about it.
He went on to explain that the road’s state is nothing to write home about, and that the community has been patching it to make it motorable.
Adetomiwa said, “We are pleading for the urgent interventions of Gov Abiodun on this deplorable road which was constructed by the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo before independence.
“The 7 kilometres road that crosses Imala township should be prioritised as it’s deemed to be one of the worst roads in Ogun State.
“We the entire residents of Imala community plead with the Honourable Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ade Akinsaya and our dear Governor, Dapo Abiodun to spread the construction and rehabilitation road project to our community which falls under Ward 14 overwhelmingly voted for the governor’s re-election in 2023.
“We are really suffering as a result of this bad road and we plead with Gov Abiodun to wipe away our tears and suffering on this road. We appreciate his good works across the state and pray that he should please come to our aid as well by helping to reconstruct this road and give us a fresh breath of life”.
Another resident, Johnson Olabode, voiced his sadness over the aches and pains he typically felt on the road due to its poor condition.
Pa Olabode, the 83-year-old former Director of the State Civil Service, stated that prior administrations had long abandoned the road, and that all previous efforts to persuade the government to repair it had failed.
He stated, “Anytime I risk driving to Imala with my car, I must visit the mechanic workshop when I return to Abeokuta.” The road is so bad that it has stunted the community’s growth.
“Our people who are mainly into farming find it difficult to bring their farm produce to the market because of the deplorable condition of the road. It is just like we have been cut off from being part of Ogun State
“We sincerely beg Gov Dapo Abiodun to help us reconstruct this Imala road. The road had been neglected by the successive government no matter how hard we tried to bring the poor condition of the road to their hearing.
“The economy along this axis of the state will witness boom and transformation once the road is fixed. We are really begging the governor to come to our aid and help us fix this road.”
