Osogbo Residents Seek Urgent Action As Road Collapses

Residents and motorists using the Oke-Baale–Sasa Road in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have appealed to the state government to urgently intervene over a deep gully that is threatening to cut off a section of the busy road.

The erosion, located shortly after the Onababaona Roundabout, has severely damaged the roadside, leaving a large crater and exposing cables and utility pipes. Parts of the remaining asphalt have also begun to crack and cave in, raising concerns about the safety of motorists and pedestrians.

Residents said the situation had worsened in recent weeks following heavy rainfall across Osogbo, which accelerated the erosion and pushed the gully closer to the main carriageway.

Motorists navigating the affected section have been forced to drive with extreme caution, particularly at night when visibility is limited. Residents fear that a vehicle could plunge into the deep pit if urgent measures are not taken.

A commercial motorcyclist, Tunde Akinwale, who uses the route regularly, said the erosion had expanded significantly since the rains began.

“Since the rains started, this gully has doubled in size. If you are not careful, especially in the evening, you can easily run into it. We are begging the government to come and repair it before someone dies here,” he said.

Another resident, Ramota Oladimeji, whose shop is located close to the affected area, expressed concern over the danger posed to residents and schoolchildren who use the road daily.

“We hear the road caving in whenever it rains heavily. The whole place shakes. We have children passing this road to school every day. It is very dangerous for pedestrians, especially school children,” she said.

A driver, Kehinde Olatunbosun, urged the Osun State Government to urgently rehabilitate the failed section, warning that further deterioration could eventually cut off the road and disrupt movement between surrounding communities and the Osogbo-Ibokun axis.

“This is a major road that links many communities. If this portion is left like this, the entire road will collapse and many people will be stranded. Government should not wait until lives are lost,” he said.

At the time of reporting, the only visible safety measures at the site were a used tyre and a thin caution tape attached to sticks, which residents described as inadequate to protect road users from the hazard.

The residents have therefore appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to urgently mobilise contractors to the area, repair the damaged section and provide adequate drainage to prevent further erosion and avert possible loss of lives.

They also called for immediate safety measures to be installed around the affected portion pending permanent rehabilitation of the road.