A peaceful protest by residents of Aduramigba community in Ido-Osun has forced Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, to order an urgent review of a 4.76-kilometre road project, which locals described as poorly executed.
The residents, who trooped out on Saturday, expressed deep frustration over the quality of the road construction, accusing the contractor of doing a shoddy job. They carried placards with inscriptions such as “We say no to no drainage and stone base road,” “Don’t cause quick pain for six communities,” and “We kick against corruption on this project.”
Community chairman, Sunday Ogundele, who addressed journalists during the protest, said the road was constructed without proper drainage, and the quality of the work had already failed under rainfall just days after tarring.
“The quality of this road is so poor. They started tarring the road on Sunday and Monday, but that rainfall on Thursday washed away the asphalt in some portions,” Ogundele lamented.
Reacting to the protest, Governor Adeleke directed top officials from the Ministry of Rural Development, the Ministry of Works, and the Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O-RAMP) to visit the area for an on-the-spot assessment.
In a statement released by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed, the officials were said to have met with community members, assessed the road project, and conveyed the governor’s directive.
“The team visited the community affected by the reportedly, sordidly constructed road for on-the-spot assessment, interaction with the community, and to deliver the message of Governor Ademola Adeleke,” the statement read.
According to Rasheed, the officials informed residents that the governor had ordered a full review of the road construction and instructed that remedial measures be taken in line with best engineering practices.
“The team also assured the community that apart from a review and a follow-up remedial work, the Governor is also looking into other pressing needs of the community,” he added.
The statement revealed further that the team is currently in talks with the contractor and project managers to gather reports and determine immediate steps for remediation. They are expected to submit their findings to the governor by Monday, after which the state government will take further action to ensure accountability and proper execution of the project.
“The team is also currently interfacing with the contractors and the project managers to collate reports and determine an immediate remediation action. The government team is to report back to the Governor by Monday, after which further corrective decisions will be taken,” the statement said.
