Commuters and motorists navigating the Ibadan-Oyo Road face mounting daily frustration as the federal highway degenerates into severe disrepair, sparking fresh commuter transport hardships Oyo State residents say require immediate action.
Frustrated travellers have issued an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers representing the state, demanding a prompt resolution to the worsening Oyo highway infrastructure failure.
The deteriorating state of the highway continues to inflict severe inconvenience, unpredictable travel delays, and escalating transportation costs on both private motorists and commercial passengers moving between Ibadan and Oyo town.
Elite Group Condemns Ibadan-Oyo Road Highway Crisis
Reacting to the crisis, the Oyo State Elite Group voiced deep concern over the deplorable condition of the corridor. The body faulted what it described as a persistent failure by the President and regional APC lawmakers to address the critical infrastructure needs of the state.
In a statement signed by its president, Segun Adewumi, the group underscored that the Ibadan-Ilorin corridor remains a vital transport link, connecting communities and driving commercial activity within Oyo State and beyond.
Seyi Makinde Alternative Routes Provide Vital Relief
It observed that, but for the construction of the Ibadan-Iseyin Road by Governor Seyi Makinde’s alternative routes strategy, which has offered a reliable bypass for many travellers, road users would have faced far worse hardship attempting to navigate the main route.
The elite group highlighted that the state-sponsored bypass has significantly lightened transport burdens for commuters, particularly those moving across different local council areas. However, it stressed that this success only underlines the urgent necessity for sustained, direct investment in federal arterial networks.
Multi-Billion Approvals Fail to Fix Ibadan-Oyo Road Decay
The group expressed sharp concern that despite the Federal Government’s recent approval of major projects worth N1.137 trillion across Oyo State, road users are still left grappling with the daily horrors of the Ibadan-Oyo Road.
Among the recently announced approvals under President Tinubu’s administration are the N276 billion dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road and the N217 billion dualisation of the old alignment from Ijawaya to Federal Government College, Ilorin Road, complete with a spur to Akinmorin.
Other key allocations include N265 billion for the reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road across Oyo and Kwara states; N110 billion for the Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road; and N98 billion earmarked for the construction of the 30-kilometre Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road in Oyo State.
The federal list further features N82 billion for the rehabilitation of the Igbeti Road, N74 billion for the construction of the Igbeti-Soro-Kishi Road, and N15.5 billion allocated to the 13-kilometre Badeku-Jaiye Road.
Despite these extensive commitments, the Oyo State Elite Group insisted that impressive paper approvals cannot compensate for the neglect of the core Ibadan-Oyo Road, which continues to paralyze local businesses and risk the safety of travellers every day.
Calls Grow to Address Oyo Highway Infrastructure Failure
The group called directly on President Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Works to carry out an immediate technical assessment of the highway, demanding that concrete measures be taken to begin full rehabilitation without delay.
It further challenged APC lawmakers representing Oyo State at the National Assembly to step up their efforts. The group urged representatives to actively draw federal attention to the plight of their constituents, ensuring the federal project receives priority budget releases.
Federal legislators, the group noted, hold a fundamental duty to represent their constituencies effectively by advocating for meaningful infrastructure development, higher road safety standards, and the general welfare of the people who elected them.
Appealing directly to federal authorities, the body urged officials to demonstrate genuine commitment to public safety by implementing permanent engineering solutions along the economic corridor.
The Oyo State Elite Group concluded by reiterating that fixing the vital link would streamline the transit of goods and services, lower travel costs, and rejuvenate commercial activities across the region. It pressed the Federal Government to swiftly translate monetary approvals into active field construction so the plight of everyday travellers is no longer ignored.
