The Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road, one of the first asphalted roads in Nigeria, has long been regarded as a vital and relatively safe route connecting the western part of the country to the Benin-Ore road and the eastern states.
During my time as a student at Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, traveling on this road was a delight. Its smooth surface and relatively safer conditions made it a preferred option, even though accidents occurred occasionally. However, these incidents were neither as frequent nor as fatal as those on the Ogbomoso-Oyo road.
In the past year, however, the road’s condition has deteriorated significantly. Heavy vehicular traffic, particularly from trucks, has caused portions of the road to cave in, while existing damaged sections have widened, with little to no intervention from the Federal Government.
The growing number of black spots along the route has made traveling on it increasingly perilous. While security operatives, especially in the Oyo State axis, are doing a commendable job in reducing crimes such as robbery and kidnapping, the poor state of the road remains a major concern.
Motorists and travelers are now appealing to the Federal Government, particularly through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to urgently repair the road. They fear it could soon mirror the deplorable conditions of other neglected roads in the region, such as the Ogbomoso-Oyo and Osogbo-Offa roads. Immediate intervention is needed to restore safety and efficiency to this critical transportation corridor.
