Several communities in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area of Oyo State have been cut off following the collapse of the Iwagba River Bridge, a critical link connecting Iwagba with surrounding communities.
The bridge collapsed in the early hours of Tuesday, September 8, 2026, following a heavy downpour, throwing residents into uncertainty and disrupting movement along the vital route.
The affected communities include Iwagba, Apake, Igbo Agboin, Mary Land and Pakistan, while the collapse has also affected access to Ori Oke Community High School and other adjoining areas.
The bridge had reportedly deteriorated over the years, with residents making several efforts to maintain and preserve the structure in the absence of adequate government intervention.
A community leader, Adewumi Adegbite, who informed journalists about the development, said the community had repeatedly drawn the attention of the local government to the condition of the bridge.
According to him, the former Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Kabiru Ayoade, had rehabilitated the bridge about four or five years ago, helping to keep the important route functional.
However, the bridge eventually became severely weakened and finally collapsed after the heavy rainfall on Tuesday.
Adegbite appealed to the Chairman of Ogbomoso North Local Government, Hon. George Ogunlade, to urgently intervene and ensure that the bridge is repaired, stressing that its strategic importance goes beyond Iwagba community.
He said the collapse could have serious consequences for residents, particularly students, traders, farmers and other people who depend on the route for their daily activities.
While acknowledging the ongoing rehabilitation of some township roads in Ogbomoso North and South under the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde, Adegbite called for greater financial support for local governments to enable them to respond effectively to grassroots infrastructure challenges.
He warned against allowing communities to depend on political parties and election candidates to perform responsibilities that ordinarily belong to government.
With the Iwagba Bridge now impassable, residents are appealing for urgent government intervention before the situation worsens and communities remain isolated for an extended period.
