The Ibadan-based civil servant, identified as Mr. Kolapo, has abandoned his three-bedroom apartment in one of the communities along Ajibode-Raniba-Lagubeja-Akubile road.

The road is located in Akinyele Local Government Area, one of the 11 local government areas that make up Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State.

DAILY POST gathered that the road serves over 52 communities and villages within Akinyele Local Government Area.

Communities and villages along the road include Ajibode, Laniba, Balogun, Adeogun, Pharaoh, Aba Osho, Lagbeja and Akubile.

Others include Cancun, Fabodo, Atoyebi, Orodo, Oyafi, Okete, Mogaji, Oloro and Ofakun.

One might wonder how a public servant like Kolapo could use his hard-earned salary to buy land, build on it, and then abandon it.

Kolapo did not abandon his home because of inadequate power supply or lack of access to water.

Close communication with Mr. Kolapo revealed that he and his family had abandoned their home due to the hardships they faced along the road every day.

Kolapo is not alone in this situation. It turns out that thousands of residents in communities passing by the road are experiencing the same problem.

Many landlords and landladys in these communities have also abandoned their homes due to the poor condition of the roads.

DAILY POST’s investigation revealed that the road was abandoned and in severe disrepair.

Origin of Ajibode-Raniba-Lagbeja-Akbile road construction

DAILY POST reported that construction of the road began during the first term of immediate past Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

Ajimobi started construction of the road in 2011, immediately after the floods that hit parts of Ibadan in August 2011, but it was never completed.

DAILY POST visited the community and revealed that Ajimobi tarred roads from Ajibode to Raniva and Akubile to Lagubeja, but the road from Raniva to Lagubeja was abandoned.

Makinde, who took over from Ajimobi, made several efforts to bring the roads into good condition, but these efforts did not yield positive results.

A recent visit showed that the Makinde administration had constructed a drainage canal on one side of the road from Raniva to Lagbeha.

The drainage ditch on the second side of the road is abandoned.

Abandoned roads are no longer drivable and pose a safety threat – Residents

Chairman of the Adeogun community, Alhaji Owolabi Akanji, told DAILY POST that the abandoned section of the road from Raniba to Lagbeja poses a security threat.

He added that some criminal elements are using this opportunity to perpetuate their evil acts.

“This road serves more than 52 communities and villages. Ajimobi started construction. Construction started after the 2011 floods,” he said.

“When the floods happened, Ajimobi started building an alternative road.At that time, the Apete Bridge collapsed and the construction of an alternative road started.

“Ajimobi built from Ajibode to Raniba. It stopped at Raniba. Then he started another construction from Akbile to Lagbeha.

“Makinde came in 2019. Then we built a drainage ditch on one side of the road. We also started construction on the other side but it was abandoned.

“The abandoned stretch is about 4 kilometers from Raniva to Raghubeha.

“There are no contractors in sight. This is a direct labor operation carried out by the Ministry of Labor. The road conditions are poor and pose a safety risk to people.”

After repeated efforts to get the government’s attention, residents resort to self-help efforts

Mr. Akanji noted that the affected communities had written several letters to the government, but no positive results had been obtained yet.

He said they usually rely on self-help by donating money to fill some holes.

He called on the state government to complete the road at the earliest.

“We have written several letters to the government, but we have not received any positive results yet,” he said.

“There have been several appeals to the government to come to our rescue and complete this road.

“What we usually do is we set ourselves a challenge, donate money and get materials and fill in the holes, and we’ve done that in the past.

“We want the state government to repair the roads on time. It’s unfortunate that some landlords and property owners have abandoned their homes because of the poor condition of the roads. You know that having motorable roads will encourage development.”

Makinde should do something soon to complete the road before the end of his term – Residents

Ayobami Iyanda, a resident of Pharaoh community, pointed out that the roads are getting worse day by day.

He pointed out that most communities rely on self-help efforts.

Iyanda said, “The roads are getting worse day by day to the point where we can’t go out by car during the rainy season.As I speak, we are clearing some of the roads ourselves.We are made up of about 50 communities.

“The road was rebuilt around 2022, with the drainage channel on one side repaired and the other side about 30% complete. Since then, the road has been abandoned and has become eroded and severely deteriorated. Passage is extremely difficult and it has become a den of miscreants.”

A resident of Lagbeha, identified as Mr. Alabi, pointed out that residents of the area find it difficult to access other areas due to the poor condition of the roads.

“We are suffering in this area because of the poor condition of the roads.

“It has affected the development of this community. Please let the state government come and complete it on time,” he implored.

Mrs. Okunola, a resident of Oyafi, noted that vulnerable people, especially women, children and the elderly, were experiencing many hardships on the streets.

“Women, children and the elderly are suffering the most. I hope the state government comes and completes this road. It is painful to see it being abandoned,” she lamented.

A Cancun resident identified as Mr. Akanmu called on the state government to repair the road on schedule.

“That road is no longer passable by cars. Passage is very difficult. Many people in the community have abandoned their homes and some car owners have abandoned their cars at their homes. We are asking the state government for help. We are asking the state government for help.”

“Mr Makinde should not wait until the end of his term to complete this path.”

Makinde plans to complete all ongoing projects by the end of his term – CPS

Meanwhile, Governor Seyi Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, has assured that all roads and other ongoing projects will be completed by the end of his administration.

Olanrewaju made this declaration in a telephone conversation with DAILY POST on Saturday.

He said residents in the affected areas should be reassured that the road would be completed by the end of the Makinde administration.

Olanrewaju said, “The Oyo State governor has promised not to abandon any project.

“So, if that road has already started and construction has begun by the present administration, rest assured that the road will be completed before the end of Governor Seyi Makinde’s term.

“The road will be completed during the lifetime of this administration.”