For the past two weeks, movement on the Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin Federal Road has been at a standstill due to the collapse of the road.
The road links the South West with Northern Nigeria. Long queues of petrol tankers and other heavy-duty vehicles are stuck on the road stretching over several kilometers.
The long presence of petrol-laden tankers in the intractable gridlock heightened fears of fire accidents.
Commuters including articulated vehicles have had to seek alternative roads to reach their destinations and in the process creating traffic problems along those routes and damaging the roads there also.
Meanwhile, the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye and other relevant stakeholders have temporarily taken over the rehabilitation of the Ogbomoso end of the 70km road which has been under reconstruction by the Federal government since 2001.
The rehabilitation works which commenced on Friday at Katika area down to the Baptist Seminary, Ogbomoso is being handled by a foreign construction firm.
Saturday Tribune recalls that many lives have been lost to the deplorable condition of the road including those of five traditional rulers who died on their way to attend a meeting in Ogbomoso in 2023.
Oba Laoye had hinted in a personally signed statement that the rehabilitation of the bad portion of the Ogbomoso end of the expressway commenced on Friday.
The statement entitled ‘Our efforts on Ogbomoso Trunk A road about to yield result’ reads: “I am not unaware of the terrible state of roads in our land, Ogbomoso, particularly the Trunk A road which is a major factor in the economy of Nigeria and West Africa in general.
“I feel the pain as you feel it. However, I salute your perseverance and forbearance on the state of the road.
“The road has become a major source of concern to all and sundry for the lives being lost and the commerce that has been affected by its deplorable condition.
“However, we have taken steps to remedy the situation by bringing our plights to the attention of the government and relevant agencies.
“In the interim, while we wait for the government’s intervention, we have made some contingency plans to alleviate the problem and bring relief.
“Our partner, in this regard, based on agreement, will kick-start the rehabilitation process this morning, Friday, October 18, 2024.
“I, thus, seek your cooperation and support in the execution of this project.”
“Together, we can recreate our land in the image we want.
“I am committed to restoring the free flow of traffic in Ogbomosoland.
“In this regard, I want to use this medium to express gratitude to all those who have contributed to providing temporary relief and those drawing the attention of the government and the world at large to the project.”
Nigerian Tribune