Ogun: Residents lament poor roads, deplorable health centre in communities

Ogun map

Residents of Ilupeju, Oke-Afa, Kajola, and Olowofela communities in Magboro, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State, have decried the deplorable state of their roads and health centre.

The residents who spoke to PUNCH Metro in separate interviews on Wednesday also lamented the absence of schools, health centres, and other basic amenities in the communities, calling on the state government to come to their assistance.

They, however, accused successive governments of abandoning their communities despite repeated appeals and promises.

During a visit to the four communities, our correspondents observed that the roads had become nearly impassable.

A hairdresser, who gave her name as Nancy, lamented that the bad roads had been submerged by floods during the rainy season.

She added that the situation had crippled her business.

“I barely get customers. I rented this shop because it was cheaper compared to the ones on the main road. But when it rains, it becomes worse. Sometimes, we even use canoes to get to our destinations,” she lamented.

Another resident, identified as Damola, said the condition of the road posed a grave risk to motorists and pedestrians alike.

“Several vehicles carrying goods either get stuck or have accidents while trying to manoeuvre the roads. Once a vehicle passes, people have to run off the road because of the danger,” he explained.

A sachet water factory owner, who gave his name only as AY, said efforts made by the communities to rehabilitate the road had repeatedly failed.

According to him, the rounds of rehabilitation had been unable to withstand the floods, which damaged them during the rainy season.