Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, has expressed concern over the deplorable condition of the Ibadan–Gbongan road, describing it as a death trap.
Oyintiloye, while speaking with newsmen on Sunday in Osogbo, said the road, which links Oyo, Osun, and Ondo states, has become a threat to road users.
He warned that continued neglect of the road would lead to higher risks, especially during this festive period when more commuters are expected to use it.
Oyintiloye, a former lawmaker, appealed to the federal government to urgently find a solution to the road before its total collapse.
He said the road is now in such terrible condition that motorists have been forced to abandon one lane of the dual carriageway.
The APC chieftain noted that the many deep potholes on the road, which serves as a vital route linking Southwest states with other regions of the country, have made it almost impassable.
“I want to appeal to the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently find a solution and fix this road.
“Every part of the road is almost impassable, and this is causing untold hardship for motorists traveling on it.
“In this festive season, traffic volume on the road will increase, and without emergency repairs, motorists might face more hardship and insecurity,” he said.
While commending the federal government on its Renewed Hope infrastructure development across the country, Oyintiloye said urgent intervention is needed on the road for the safety and well-being of Nigerians using it.
“Due to the terrible condition of the road, the dual carriageway has been converted to a single lane.
“This is not good for the safety of road users, especially at this period. A good road network will help the nation sustain its current economic growth, create jobs, improve economic activities, and enrich the quality of life of the people,” he said.
Oyintiloye added that the deteriorating condition of many roads across the country has become a significant strain on the economy.
He noted that the situation leads to the loss of billions of Naira annually in lost productivity and resources.
“Beyond economic setbacks, the poor state of the road network has claimed countless lives in preventable accidents and exposed travellers to the dangers of insecurity,” he said.
He further stated that despite substantial yearly budgets dedicated to road construction and maintenance, the country continues to face a persistent gap in the quality and quantity of its road infrastructure.
He, however, urged the federal government to fast-track the rehabilitation and reconstruction of all roads that need urgent attention as the festive period approaches.