Motorists, residents decry state of Apete roads

Commuters, motorists, residents and other road users in Apete community in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State are worried about the state of the roads in the area.

They said the poor state of the roads in the area has made community a nightmare as they have endured the potholes that dot the roads for many years, which get worse during the rainy season.

The stretch of road from Apete junction to Aribi-Arola, Ajibode road and the roads surrounding the Apete market, have become dangerous due to the poor drainage system of the roads.

Motorcyclists plying the roads within Apete axis expressed frustration and concern over the deplorable state of roads, citing potholes, craters and poor maintenance as major threats to their safety and livelihoods.

Gbenga Adejumo, a tricyclist, told the Nigerian Tribune that the bad roads have become a daily nightmare to him. The tricyclist said he had suffered many accidents and injuries due to the poor state of the roads.

He also noted the impact on his tricycle which he fixes often due to constant wear and tear.

Mrs Funmilayo Adebayo, a resident of the area, said of her experience on the road. “The road is a mess,” she said, adding “It is like driving through a war zone. I am constantly worried about hitting a pothole or getting into an accident, which has caused a lot of delay on the road.”

Sunday Oguntimehin, a commercial motorcyclist, said he had been involved in accidents twice this year due to poor condition of the road. “The government needs to do something urgently. We are not just cyclists, we are humans,” he said.

A petty trader around Apete Garage, who identified herself simply as Mrs Ojo said: “The roads are not only bad for us, but for motorists and pedestrians as well. It is a risk for everyone.”

Mr Ademola has been a motorcyclist for over 30 years and is familiar with the state of roads in other parts of Nigeria. He said in his many years on the trade, the Apete roads are the most deplorable and require urgent government attention.

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