Above pictures is the current situation at the Agbado portion of the Ijoko-Agbado-Akute-Alagbole-Berger road which has been under construction for the past eleven years.
This is the present state of the road, in spite, of heavenly promises by Abiodun of Ogun State to begin work on the road; this was in August, few months to the election held in March this year.
The state of the road has not only killed businesses along the 32kilometre road, the about five million residents are tired of the promises from the Governor who deceptively moved contractors, Craneburg, to site with a promise that the road will be constructed in five phases.
Today, the only business surviving on the axis is the numerous Okada riders that ply the road charging exorbitant fees on the bumpy rides and rickety vehicles and car owners who must visit mechanic on weekly basis to effect one repair or the other.
The question now is, of what economic justification is the abandonement of the axis inhabited by not less five million citizens and the collapse of several businesses like filling stations, event centres and other businesses that could boost the macro economy of the state.
While work commenced on the first phases at Alagbole and a portion of Ijoko,the contractors moved out of site as soon as the elections were over last March.
It is significant to note that for the past eleven years no single health facility was provided for the teeming population only a dilapidated health centre at Oke Aro and secondary school at Agbado, Agbado Community High School, with several abandoned structures inside the compound.
Yet, in spite of this state of things,you hear government announce several billions yearly on road construction and you ask beside state capitals like Abeokuta and urban centres like Ijebu Ode, Sagamu,and the Atan Lusada road, on which road are they spending the money?
The state hospital at Ifo is manned only by three medical doctors while the other few medical personnel wear long drawn faces due to frustrations caused by dearth of medical facilities.
Ogun state government should stop deceiving the good people of the state who has been unfortunate to have semblance of good government in the past twenty years while abandoned esoteric projects like bridges litter the state.
Ijoko/Akute road before the elections in February and March photos by Charles Okogene
The state of the road as at July 1 photos by Charles Okogene
Agbado/Ijoko axis of the road pictures by Tunde Abatan
