Motorists plying a road linking Lusada and Igbesa, two industrial towns in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, have lamented the poor state of the road.

The motorists and some residents of the areas claimed that four persons died in an accident caused by the poor state of the road on October 15, 2014.

A resident, Babatunde Raheem, said, “Two commercial motorcyclists plying the road on the day collided because they were trying to avoid some potholes. Four persons died in the accident.”

The Lusada-Igbesa Road is a major link road that connects many investment-driven projects of the government such as the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa and the Ogun State Institute of Science and Technology, among others to other interstate highways.

Our correspondent, who visited the area on Saturday, observed that the nine-kilometre road had become impassable, causing gridlock and harrowing experiences for its users.

Residents of the area said they detested the sign of rain. According to them, whenever there is a downpour, the road becomes flooded and marshy, aggravating their woes.

Motorists and commercial motorcyclists told PUNCH Metro that the road had become a nightmare for them.

The residents, who alleged government’s neglect of the road, told our correspondent that a makeshift repair was done on the road two years ago when President Goodluck Jonathan visited the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa.

“I cannot really call it a repair because they merely filled the road, with gravel so that Jonathan could navigate the road. It was a mere face-saving effort,” a resident, who declined identification, said.

Some agents of the Ogun State Bureau of Transportation were seen collecting a toll of N1,000 from tippers and trucks transporting raw materials to the multinational companies in Igbesa.

Our correspondents learnt that the money was being used to patch up some failed sections of the road whenever there was a downpour.

One of the agents collecting the toll, who does not want to be named, said, “We have to do something. The students of the Ogun State Institute of Science and Technology, who ply the route on motorcycles, always fall down while avoiding potholes.”

A resident of the area, who identified herself simply as Mrs. Lasisi, said she had abandoned her car at home because it always developed faults whenever she passed through the road.

She said, “This road has become a death trap and a big burden. I have to abandon my car at home because of constant faults whenever I use the road. The government should please come to our aid.”

Another resident, Mr. Francis Gagbo, who claimed to have been living in the area since 1985, said no meaningful work had been done on the road.
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Ogun communities lament road condition
November 24, 2014 by Toluwani Eniola 3 Comments



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Lusada-Igbesa Road

Lusada-Igbesa Road
| credits: Toluwani Eniola

Motorists plying a road linking Lusada and Igbesa, two industrial towns in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State, have lamented the poor state of the road.

The motorists and some residents of the areas claimed that four persons died in an accident caused by the poor state of the road on October 15, 2014.

A resident, Babatunde Raheem, said, “Two commercial motorcyclists plying the road on the day collided because they were trying to avoid some potholes. Four persons died in the accident.”

The Lusada-Igbesa Road is a major link road that connects many investment-driven projects of the government such as the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa and the Ogun State Institute of Science and Technology, among others to other interstate highways.

Our correspondent, who visited the area on Saturday, observed that the nine-kilometre road had become impassable, causing gridlock and harrowing experiences for its users.

Residents of the area said they detested the sign of rain. According to them, whenever there is a downpour, the road becomes flooded and marshy, aggravating their woes.

Motorists and commercial motorcyclists told PUNCH Metro that the road had become a nightmare for them.

The residents, who alleged government’s neglect of the road, told our correspondent that a makeshift repair was done on the road two years ago when President Goodluck Jonathan visited the Ogun Guangdong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa.

“I cannot really call it a repair because they merely filled the road, with gravel so that Jonathan could navigate the road. It was a mere face-saving effort,” a resident, who declined identification, said.

Some agents of the Ogun State Bureau of Transportation were seen collecting a toll of N1,000 from tippers and trucks transporting raw materials to the multinational companies in Igbesa.

Our correspondents learnt that the money was being used to patch up some failed sections of the road whenever there was a downpour.

One of the agents collecting the toll, who does not want to be named, said, “We have to do something. The students of the Ogun State Institute of Science and Technology, who ply the route on motorcycles, always fall down while avoiding potholes.”

A resident of the area, who identified herself simply as Mrs. Lasisi, said she had abandoned her car at home because it always developed faults whenever she passed through the road.

She said, “This road has become a death trap and a big burden. I have to abandon my car at home because of constant faults whenever I use the road. The government should please come to our aid.”

Another resident, Mr. Francis Gagbo, who claimed to have been living in the area since 1985, said no meaningful work had been done on the road.

He said, “As you can see, the road leading to this area is in a very deplorable condition. I have been here since 1985 and there has been no meaningful improvement.”

Raheem, another resident, said, “This road is not palatable. When rain falls, motorists face hell driving through this area. Even those walking on the road always encounter difficulty as the road will be impassable.”

The Chairman SSANU-LASU PHASE 3 Residents Association in Lusada, Mr. Jamiu Lasisi, said the association had written a letter appealing to the Ogun State Government.

He said, “It is noteworthy that many industries are springing up in this area because of its vantage position, an indication that Lusada and Igbesa in the future will soon be urbanised. This is the more reason why the road should be dualised.

“While we recognise that the Ogun State Governor has turned the state into a giant construction site with massive road construction, rehabilitation and flyovers in Abeokuta, Sagamu and Ijebu-Ode areas, we at Lusada in the Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area have yet to feel this impact.

“By virtue of the poor state of the road, the Lusada-Igbesa communities and the Ogun State government are missing out on great benefits that the presence of good road could avail.

“The road, when rehabilitated, will generate development and growth of the communities in question. The road will also open up the undeveloped areas. Therefore this will increase the revenue of the state and the local governments.”

The Ogun State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Lekan Adegbite, however, said the state government did not neglect the road.

Adegbite, who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone, said the government was aware of the poor state of the road and would do something soon.

He said, “Like other roads in Ogun State, the Lusada-Igbesa Road is important to the government, especially because it links the industrial belt of the state. Some officials of the ministry have visited the area and some palliative measures are being put in place till we can upgrade the road to the normal standard.”

http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/ogun-communities-lament-road-condition/