Residents and business owners along Opic Road in Ogun State are expressing frustration over its severely dilapidated condition, which has worsened during the rainy season and negatively impacted daily life and businesses
[dropcap]R[/dropcap]esidents and business owners along Opic Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have voiced their growing frustration over the severely dilapidated condition of the road, which they say has become a significant obstacle, particularly with the onset of the rainy season.
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The road, a crucial artery connecting to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Mowe-Ofada Road, the Magistrate Court, and the palace of the Onigbein of Igbein Land, serves as a vital route for both commuters and numerous businesses operating in the area.
Joseph Oluwatimileyin, a concerned resident, expressed the daily difficulties encountered while navigating the road, especially during periods of rainfall.
“This road is in bad shape, and, unfortunately, the palace is located here, yet the road is terrible, especially during the rainy season,” he lamented. “Big vehicles can’t pass because they risk damaging their parts due to the many large potholes along this road.”
Oluwatimileyin further stated that the road has suffered from neglect for over a decade. “Since Governor Amosun repaired the road, nothing has been done to it in the past 10 years,” he claimed.
He also highlighted the concerning frequency of accidents in the area, urgently appealing to the state government to take swift action to rectify the situation.
“The accidents here are too frequent. We need urgent intervention to fix this road and reduce the number of accidents,” he pleaded.
A local business owner, who preferred to remain anonymous, echoed the residents’ sentiments, criticizing the poor state of the road and expressing disbelief at the lack of improvement despite its proximity to the traditional ruler’s palace.
“I’ve been here for almost three years and haven’t seen any changes. It’s even shocking that there’s a massive pothole right in front of the palace,” she said.
The business owner detailed how the road’s deteriorated condition has adversely affected her livelihood.
“Because of the poor road, many vehicle owners avoid this area to prevent damage to their cars,” she explained.
“If the road were in better shape, this would be a prime business area, but people don’t want to risk damaging their vehicles.”
Responding to the concerns, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, assured that the state government has not neglected its responsibilities and is actively working to address the issue.
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“We are working towards ensuring that most roads in Ogun State are motorable. We are doing everything we can to make sure that the roads are usable,” Akinmade stated.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
