Ondo Residents Mount Barricade, Protest Road Infrastructure, Projects

Residents of the Ijoka community in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State, on Monday, took to the streets to protest the abandoned and dilapidated state of the Ijoka Road, a major route linking several parts of the state capital.

As early as 7:00 a.m., the angry residents mounted barricades with logs of wood and stones, paralysing vehicular movement and forcing hundreds of commuters to trek long distances. The protest caused a gridlock that spread to adjoining routes, including Oda Road and Oluwatuyi axis.

The residents accused the state government of neglecting the dualisation of the Ijoka Road project, which was initiated about seven years ago during the administration of the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. According to them, work on the project stopped shortly after Akeredolu’s death in December 2023.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Fix Ijoka Road, Save Our Lives,” and “No More Promises, We Need Action,” the protesters said the road had deteriorated into a death trap. They demanded immediate government intervention to complete the project and end their years of hardship.

One of the protest leaders, Dele Akinola, said the demonstration became necessary after several appeals to the government yielded no results.

“It’s painful; this road was a top priority for the late governor. After his passing, it’s as if the government forgot we exist,” Akinola lamented. “Every rainy season, this road becomes a river. Cars break down daily, tricycles tip over, and people get injured. We have written petitions and met officials, yet nothing has been done.”

A community leader, Chief Kayode Ogunleye, urged Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to honour his predecessor’s legacy by completing the project, saying it would ease the suffering of thousands of Akure residents.

Attempts to reach the Commissioner for Works, Abiola Olawoye, were unsuccessful. However, a senior official in the ministry confirmed that the government was aware of the situation and had plans to rehabilitate the road soon.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of Akure South Local Government, Gbenga Fasua, who visited the protest scene, appealed for calm.

“We understand your frustration. The government is not ignoring your plight,” Fasua assured. “Work on Ijoka Road will commence shortly, and we urge residents to remain patient as efforts are being made to fix it once and for all.”