There are growing concerns over the deplorable state of the Agosasa-Ipokia road in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. Although motorists, commuters and residents who ply the road admitted that the government had put in some palliatives, there’s the need for a complete overhaul of the road, Daily Trust Saturday reports.
The Agosasa-Odo Afa-Ipokia road leads to about 300 communities, villages and settlements in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State. It equally connects Idiroko, the commercial capital of the local government and one of the major land borders in Nigeria.
For years, the road has been in a deplorable condition, creating untold hardship for users, especially during the rainy season.
Apart from being dotted with potholes and craters, the Odo Afa (Afa river) axis of the road has been problematic during the wet season. When it rains, the river overflows its boundary, washes away hard surfaces and makes the road impassable.
The 350-metre bridge was approved for construction during the administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, but it was abandoned. Daily Trust Saturday reports that the last wet season dealt a huge blow on the road, especially at the portion of Odo Afa, leaving users helpless for months.
In response to the outcry of residents of the area, Governor Dapo Abiodun, in August this year, ordered palliative measures on the road to cushion the effect of the hardship they suffered.
In a statement signed by his chief press secretary, Kunle Somorin, Abiodun admitted that the road “is very important to the entire road network of the axis as it connects towns within the local government area.’’ He ordered the commencement of work on the abandoned road.
According to him, the first phase of the project, started by the last administration in the state, will focus on the Afa River area while temporary measures to make the road motorable pending its completion has also commenced.
He said the reconstruction of the road had become imperative as it linked most wards and towns in Ipokia Local Government Area.
“The administration is keen on completing the road and all other abandoned projects for the interest of the people and their welfare. I plead with everyone affected by this development, especially through a temporary alteration in their daily schedules, to be patient with us as engineers complete work,’’ the governor stated.
Following this decision, contractors moved to the site and commenced work on the road to give reprieve to users. Between August and October, they had done major foundation works, including drainage around Odo Afa, as well as sand-filled major portions of the road.
However, road users who have been heaving a sigh of relief lamented that contractors had abandoned the site in the last two weeks.
A member representing Ipokia Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Mrs Sikiratu Ajibola, confirmed to Daily Trust Saturday that the contractors had left the site.
She said that as a result of the state of the road, economic activities were scuttled on a daily basis as motorists and commuters found it difficult to do business. According to her, the affected local government area is closer to Benin Republic than Nigeria.
The lawmaker said it was time the people’s agitation for good roads yielded positive results.
She had previously noted that apart from the Agosasa-Ipokia road, almost all roads in the local government area required immediate government’s intervention.
“I appeal to Governor Dapo Abiodun to fix roads in Ipokia Local Government Area. All our roads are very bad. We have been clamouring for this for so long, but no one is coming to our rescue.
“The governor should please do something about our roads as soon as possible. Some of them are lfonyintedo-Madigan road, Madoga-lmule road, Jolaco filling station-Mede-Owotedo-ldologun road in Ajegunle, and Agosasa-Idoloisa road.
“Others are Ihunbo-Ori Eke-lgborodo road, Community Secondary School-Water Corporation road, Tube-Agosasa road and ljofin to ldosa road, all in my local government, Ipokia,” she said.
Mrs Ajibola particularly said the Agosasa-Ipokia road required total reconstruction, saying palliative measures won’t stand the test of time.
She added, “They filled the road with clay sand, but I am afraid that if it rains we would be back to square one. That’s a very important road in the local government. Almost everybody from the area makes use of the road as it leads to the headquarters. About 10 out of the 18 wards use it. The road is very important, so government should help to fix it.
“It is better to reconstruct the road instead of putting palliatives in place as it will not stand the test of time.’’
Sharing the people’s experiences on the road, a community leader, Ajibade Idowu said, “During the rainy season it was in a complete deplorable state. A number of vehicles got stuck while many accidents were recorded. But for now, with government’s intervention, the road is better, compared to what people experienced when it was raining.
“Let the government reconstruct the road. It won’t make any sense if it rains and washes away all the efforts they have put in place. We are grateful for the palliative measures, but for a lasting solution, they must complete the job. People are commending the government already, but if anything happens to the road again, they won’t be happy.’’
A youth leader in the local government area, Deji Imoleayo, said the last time major work was done on the road was during the administration of Chief Olusegun Osoba, between 1999 and 2003.
Responding to questions from Daily Trust Saturday, the Special Adviser to the governor on Public Communication, Remmy Hazzan, confirmed that the contractors have left the site.
Hazzan said the state government was redirecting its policy on palliative measures on deplorable roads, saying it amounts to double work. According to him, except where it becomes compulsory, all measures will be geared towards reconstructing the roads. He said this policy must have affected the Agosasa-Ipokia road.
“Part of our policy redirection is that palliative measures amount to double jeopardy. The failure we are trying to correct will ultimately happen, and at the end, we would have incurred expenses.
“We want to discourage the idea of palliative measures as much as possible, except where it can’t be helped at all. We will just order full repairs of such roads because after palliative measures the roads will still fail and we will need to spend more. So why not go into full repairs. That line of thinking is seriously creeping into our procedures.
“You will notice that work is being discontinued at most of the places where palliatives are going on, except where it can’t be helped at all. This is so that we can now start full blown reconstruction of such roads. That’s what you must have noticed.’’
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