How armed robbers are taking advantage of deplorable Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode highway

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Roads are one of the developmental indices. They serve as the link between communities and states. However, when such roads have become a death trap, it becomes a cause for concern. SOJI AJIBOLA carried out an on-the-spot assessment of the deplorable state of Ibadan-Ijebu Ode highway.

The less than 85 kilometres stretch Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode highway is one of the legacies of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, then as Premier of the Western Region. This popular road which serves as link for states in the South-West and Eastern part of Nigeria has in the past 10 years become a shadow of itself. Its previously laden asphalt has given way to dotted potholes and deep valley. Motorists and commuters ply the road with trepidation, as armed robbers now take advantage of the deplorable condition of the road to carry out heinous acts.

Sadly, many lives had been lost on the road either to accidents, rape or kidnap incidents while community dwellers along the once busy road now live in fear. There is no portion of the road that can be said to be in good condition, right from the New Garage end in Ibadan to the termination point at Ijebu-Ode in Ogun State. The road has been cut off in some places while motorists in search of alternative routes are forced to spend more hours on the road. Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road, according to the roadside milestones is less than 85 kilometres. Therefore, motorists on an average speed of 100 kilometres per hour are expected to spend less than one hour to cover the stretch. However, this is not the case.

The affected portions of the road which are gradually becoming impassable, as observed during an on-the-spot assessment include: New Garage, Odo Ona, Igbaro, Alomoja, Mamu, Awa, Oru and other places in both Oyo and Ogun states.

The Igbaro and Alomoja ends in Oluyole Local Government Area, if swift action is not taken, will soon be cut off totally. Right now, many motorists barely manage to pass the route while others make a detour to Alomaja-Idi Ayunre Road.

Also, many vehicles have broken down inside what the motorists described as a deep valley on the road while an unreported number of accident cases have occurred resulting in the death of an unknown number of motorists and commuters.

Armed robbers are said to be taking an undue advantage of the situation as motorists while approaching the bad spots pedaled down and moved at snail speed. It was gathered that many had lost their lives while valuables worth millions have been lost.

The situation grows worse whenever it rains as flood takes over a huge chunk of the road, thereby retarding human and vehicular movements. Potholes deep up to seven inches are filled up with flood water which may result into an unavoidable accident.

Some of the stakeholders, especially those that have been plying the route in the last 25 and 30 years, attributed the development to the insensitivity of the government at all levels.

According to them, the government feels unconcerned about the plight of the masses; they are waiting for the unexpected to happen before they take action.

Some drivers under the Park Managers System of Oyo State expressed deep concern over the deplorable condition of the road, which has forced vehicles of some of their members off the road.

Sakiru Bolodeoku, a commercial bus driver in his narration submitted that the glory days of Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode were gone.

“We have become daily visitors to the mechanic workshop while others that cannot afford the maintenance cost have been forced to abandon their vehicles with the mechanics.

“I have been driving on this road in the past 20 years or thereabout. What we are seeing now is better imagined than experienced. Hardly can you drive a stretch of one kilometre without running into a ditch. Lives had been lost to the deplorable condition of the road.

“Armed robbers position themselves at the affected places, especially Igbapo which is very close to Alomoja to dispossess people of their valuables. Commuters and motorists have become prey for the kidnappers.

“We (motorists) have been forced to team up with the security agents to dislodge criminals from the affected places, but there is little we can do as individuals. Government at all levels should rise to the situation. If the government cannot reconstruct the road by making it dual carriage, it should be rehabilitated for safety of lives and property,” he said.

According to him, the affected areas that need urgent attention are: New Garage, Odo-Ona, Ehin Igbaro, Alomoja, Onigambari, Darley, Oniposi, Mamu and Awa Ijebu.

Tajudeen Atobatele bemoaned the present condition of the road, describing it as “unacceptable in a democratic setting like ours. Due to the present condition of the road, we incur more operational cost in term of fueling likewise maintenance of our vehicles.

“The affected bad spots have become hiding places for armed robbers, especially at the Alomaja end. There is little that the policemen can do to checkmate criminal activities on the road except the Federal Government do the needful by rehabilitating the road.

“We have been to the other part of the countries. Their roads are not as terrible like ours. Sometime ago, cases of kidnapping and other vices were rampant along Ijebu-Ode road. These reported cases can be checkmated. If the road is okay. Vehicle will move freely. Armed robbers will not dare to stop vehicles that are on high speed.

“There is need for the government to cut the trees at the roadside so that drivers can see the distance from afar. Aside from this, it will reduce cases of trees falling on the road. We have had instances in the past whereby some motorists and computers had lost their lives to this preventable accident.”

Another commercial driver, Abdulahi Bello, decried the pitiable condition of the road blaming it on the quality of materials and ineptitude of the contractors.

He said, “The road was not as bad as this 10 years ago. The situation is pitiable and terrible from New Garage end of Ibadan to the boundary community of Mamu in Ogun State.

“Whenever it rains, flood will take over the sizeable portion of the road, thereby making it difficult for the drivers to navigate the road from either of the two ends. Kidnappers and perpetrators of the heinous act take advantage of the situation to carry out the heinous act. Igbagbo has become the hotspot from criminal act.

“We (drivers) are helpless. There is little we can do than to cry to the people in the authority to come to our aids. The road need urgent attention. If at all,it cannot not be dualised for now, let it be rehabilitated.”

Also, the chairman Park Management System South West 1, Alhaji Taofeek Muritala Apase, appealed to the Federal government to hearken to the plea of the masses for the rehabilitation of Ijebu Ode road.

“We beg our amiable governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, to lobby the Federal Government at ensuring that something is done on Ijebu Ode road,” he said.

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