The Kwara South Youth Congress, a pro-democracy organization, has made a heartfelt appeal to the Kwara State government, led by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, to prioritize the renovation and construction of major roads that link various intra-community areas within the Ifelodun local government.
In a detailed statement released by the group’s publicity secretary, Bashir Adejare, appreciation was extended to the government for their recent efforts in repairing some roads in the region. Notably mentioned was the road connecting Oke Iya Ipo town to Igbaja, along with several others that have seen improvements in the Igbaja communities. However, Adejare pointed out a significant concern: the majority of intra-community roads within Ifelodun local government have not been adequately maintained, with many originally constructed more than 30 years ago. Alarmingly, some roads have never been tarred at all.
During a comprehensive tour of key towns and villages in the area, KSYC found that over 60 percent of the roads are in poor condition, hindering accessibility and development. A visible example is the Idofian-Elerinjare road, which has controversially been awarded for repair twice under two separate administrations but remains unfixed. The group firmly believes that addressing the condition of this road is crucial for fostering agrarian community development.
Improving this road would not only facilitate better transportation within Ifelodun but also enhance the overall inter-community road network. It plays an essential role, as it connects Ojoku in Oyun local government and Offa in Offa local government, Bashir said.
He went further “The road linking Ifelodun Local Government to Fufu, the headquarters of Ilorin South Local Government, has become a perilous stretch, resembling a death trap. A recent visit to the area revealed that despite numerous attempts to patch it up, the road remains in dire condition, making travel a daunting challenge. We earnestly appeal for a comprehensive rehabilitation of this road to relieve the burden that residents endure in navigating this route.
Another critical roadway in urgent need of attention is the road connecting Igbaja to Mosudo and Balogun Oja. This over 10-kilometer stretch is in complete disrepair, leaving the citizens of these towns stranded during the rainy season. They have lived under such dire conditions for more than 50 years, facing significant hardships as they find it nearly impossible to enter or leave their communities when the rains come. Additionally, the villages within the Oke Ode and Igbaja districts also deserve proper focus and care.
Apart from being the largest local government in Kwara State by land mass, it also hosts numerous ancient towns steeped in rich history and has significantly contributed to the overall development of the state: Igbaja, Oke Ode, Share, Omupo, Idofian, Ganmo, Amoyo among others. The Kwara State Youth Congress (KSYC) calls upon the Executive Governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, and the Ministry of Works to take immediate action to address these pressing infrastructure deficiencies. We emphasize the long-term benefits that such improvements would bring to the development and connectivity of the region,” Bashir concluded.
