By Olanrewaju Akojede
Lagos – Prof. Olurotimi Ajayi, Vice-Chancellor, Crawford University, Igbesa, Ogun, and some members of Igbesa and Lusada communities have urged the Federal Government to repair the Atan-Agbara road currently in a deplorable state.
They made the call when they spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the 8th Convocation of Crawford University.
NAN reports that the access road to Agbara, reputably one of the biggest industrial estates in the country has been in a bad state for decades.
The ever busy road serves as the link to the Nigerian border at Seme and also has high influx of articulated vehicles transporting industrial products across the country.
Igbesa community is also hosting two institutions; Crawford University and Ogun State College of Technology and the abandoned Ogun State Free Trade Zone (OGSFTZ).
The community leaders lamented the road’s neglect by previous governments and urged that the road which had contributed immensely to the economy’s growth be rehabilitated without further delay.
On his part, Ajayi said that the bad state of the road had affected business activities in the community, urging the government to repair it.
“The deplorable state of Atan-Agbara road has continued to be the bane of the development of various corporate institutions in this area.
“In like manner, Ketu-Adie-Owie road has been in a state of disrepair for a long time. This has continued to take its toll on socio-economic activities and our vehicles.
“There are too many important industries on this axis and by extension this university for it to be neglected. We, however, wish to make a request for the roads rehabilitation.
“It is our belief that the economic wellbeing of the state shall be enhanced if the roads are given the deserved attention by both federal and state government,’’ he said.
One of the Elders in the Igbesa community, Alhaji Remi Busari, said that the neglect suffered by the roads baffled him owing to their importance to the economy.
“The neglect of these roads by the government is what baffles me, we have made several representations to the government on the roads but no good response was received; it’s been empty promises.
“I wonder why the only road that connects the largest industrial estate in Ogun to the world will be in such a state of disrepair; I think government needs to reorder its priority.
“The last repair done on the road was an emergency intervention by the Winners Chapel Church and that was just managing some extremely bad portions that had witnessed terrible accidents.
“Government has not done any repairs or rehabilitation on the road since it was constructed about 38 years ago. We need the government to please save us by rebuilding the road,’’ he said.
Another community leader, Chief Suraju Gbadebo, said that the road had in the past caused fatal accidents, adding that it was a nightmare passing the road at dusk.
“That Atan-Agbara road is a death trap, one need to be an experienced driver to navigate to the bad portions on the road and also avoid heavy duty vehicles.
“We have experienced several fatal crashes on the road and also the heavy duty vehicles that are constantly harassing us.
“Plying the road after 8 p.m. is just like `father unto your hands’. First, there may be a robbery incident or articulated vehicles blocking the road because they were spoilt.
“We are almost tired of complaining as we have made many complaints, nonetheless, we still want to appeal to government to please Save Our Soul,’’ he said