The Federal Government has moved swiftly to address the worsening condition of the Oye-Ekiti–Ilupeju–Kabba road in Ekiti State, following a report by the Nigerian Tribune highlighting the severe hardship being experienced by motorists, travellers and operators of articulated vehicles along the failed highway.
The Minister of Works, Engr Dave Umahi, on Monday said senior officials of the Ministry of Works would on Tuesday proceed to the corridor for an immediate assessment of the deplorable sections of the road and recommend decisive measures to restore movement along the strategic route.
Umahi gave the assurance while speaking at the flag-off of the 56.5-kilometre Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road reconstruction project in Ibadan, where he reacted to the Tribune report published earlier in the day on the deteriorating condition of the Oye-Ekiti–Ilupeju–Kabba road.
The report had detailed the plight of hundreds of articulated vehicles and trucks reportedly stranded for days along the Ifaki–Oye–Ilupeju axis as a result of the collapse of critical portions of the road, with motorists and other road users forced to endure prolonged delays and difficult travelling conditions.
Responding to the report, the minister said the Federal Government was concerned about the situation and would not allow commuters using the corridor to continue to suffer.
Umahi said the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, would lead senior directors and engineers from the ministry to inspect the road and assess the extent of the damage, with a view to taking immediate and decisive action.
He said, “Let me assure the people of Ekiti and travellers on the condition of the Oye-Ekiti-Ilupeju-Kabba road that the government is committed to adequate intervention.
“We understand the situation and tomorrow(Tuesday) the Honourable Minister of State for Works will lead some delegations of senior directors and engineers to inspect the project, and we will take decisive action on the road.
“My apologies to the commuters on these corridors. The project will be done.”
The minister’s intervention came barely hours after the Nigerian Tribune reported the worsening condition of the highway, drawing attention to the growing gridlock and the hardship being faced by residents, travellers and heavy-duty truck operators.
The Oye-Ekiti–Ilupeju–Kabba corridor is an important route linking communities in Ekiti and neighbouring Kogi States and Abuja and serves as a major passage for commercial vehicles transporting goods and agricultural produce.
The deterioration of the road has also raised concerns about the safety of road users, the economic losses being suffered by transporters and businesses, as well as the potential impact on the movement of essential commodities.
The Federal Government’s decision to dispatch senior officials to the road is therefore expected to provide a first-hand assessment of the condition of the failed sections and determine the nature and scale of intervention required.