‘We can’t fix it anymore,’ 52 Ogun communities affected lament
Residents living in Kenta-Olokuta-Idi-Aba, a community in Abeokuta, Ogun State, are voicing their urgent plea to both the federal and state governments. They are requesting immediate attention to the deteriorating condition of the road that leads to the Wole Soyinka Train Station.
The Wole Soyinka Train Station holds significance as one of the ten stations comprising the extensive 156km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail network. This railway network was inaugurated in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, marking a significant development in transportation infrastructure.
However, despite the state-of-the-art train station’s completion by the Ministry of Transportation, it appears that the crucial aspect of ensuring proper access to the station was overlooked.
Chief Ezekiel Olushola, a respected community leader, expressed deep concern over the situation. He recounted tragic incidents, including the loss of a student’s life and that of a pregnant woman, directly attributed to the hazardous state of the road.
Moreover, the road is not only vital for reaching the train station but also serves as a critical link connecting approximately 52 communities within the Abeokuta South Local Government area.
Chief Olushola conveyed the gravity of the situation: “A student coming from school at Kemta, and there was a truck coming, too. Because of the bad road, the driver wanted to maneuver from a bad spot and, unfortunately, hit the student, and he died.”
Another local resident, Olabisi Ogundipe, who serves as the secretary of cab operators at the train station, shed light on the economic burden the road’s condition imposes on the community. He shared, “On a daily basis, we visit our mechanics for minor and major repairs on our vehicles. At the end of the day, when you calculate what you have gained, you would have spent over 70% of the income on the maintenance of the vehicle.”
Babatunde Folarin, the chairman representing the affected communities, emphasized the tremendous financial toll this situation has taken on residents. He pointed out that they have collectively spent approximately N20 million to address the road’s issues, which he described as nothing short of a disaster.
Folarin stressed, “It’s glaring; this is an ecological disaster affecting over 52 communities in this area. This road is totally cut off. What else can we do? The economic viability of this area has been destroyed. This is a disaster. It’s a failed road.”
He further emphasized the road’s significance, stating, “This road is less than three kilometers. We have tried our best. We have done palliatives. We have called people for donations, but right now, the residents are tired, we are broke.”
Folarin underlined the embarrassment this situation poses to the government and highlighted the long-standing struggle, spanning over five years, to address this issue. He questioned, “This is the road that leads to a federal complex, the Wole Soyinka Train Station. We know it’s a state road, but if people cannot enjoy the facility of that train station, if people cannot get there, what is the purpose? People are dying every day.”
In a fervent appeal, Folarin called upon President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun to urgently intervene and rectify the road’s dire condition, alleviating the suffering of the countless users, particularly those accessing the crucial train station.
A resident, Olaniyi, acknowledged the Abiodun administration’s commendable efforts in fixing many roads in the state. However, he earnestly implored the government not to overlook the dire state of the Olokuta train station road.
