Ondo residents decry’s Aiyedatiwa Abandonment of Ore–Okitipupa Road Amid Deaths, Economic Losses
community News
Akure, Ondo — Public outrage is mounting over the deplorable condition of the Ore–Okitipupa Road, a critical federal highway in Ondo State, with residents and stakeholders accusing Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa’s administration of neglect despite repeated appeals.
In an open letter published on Wednesday and widely circulated on social media, concerned citizen Odofin Oluwafemi described the road as a “monument to governmental neglect” and a “death trap.”
This marks at least the fourth such public appeal from him in the past six months, highlighting ongoing frustration among commuters, transport unions, community leaders, and civil society groups.
The Ore–Okitipupa Road serves as a vital economic corridor linking Ondo South Senatorial District to other parts of the state and beyond. It supports commerce, agriculture, tourism, and access to oil-producing areas.
However, it has deteriorated into a series of deep potholes, causing prolonged traffic congestion, frequent vehicle breakdowns, overturned trailers, and accidents.
Oluwafemi detailed the human and economic toll:
• Safety risks: Frequent accidents and fatalities, with expectant mothers, the elderly, children, and critically ill patients facing severe stress.
• Economic losses: Traders, farmers, and businesses incur high costs from delayed goods transport, damaged vehicles (suspensions, tires), and rising logistics expenses. Investors are reportedly discouraged.
• Daily hardships: Commuters and commercial operators endure avoidable risks on what should be a strategic gateway.
“The people of Ondo South are asking a painful question: Have we become so insignificant that the road serving our communities no longer deserves urgent government attention?” Oluwafemi wrote.
He contrasted the neglect with ongoing road projects elsewhere in the state, invoking the legacy of late Governor Olusegun Agagu for balanced infrastructure development.
The road is a federal highway, with calls for the Federal Government to extend rehabilitation works (such as the Akure–Ore project) to cover Ore–Okitipupa–Igbokoda. Senate interventions have previously urged inclusion of this corridor to support Ondo South’s economic zone.
Governor Aiyedatiwa’s administration has highlighted infrastructure efforts, including dualization of the Okitipupa–Igbokoda road, other rehabilitations, and directives for contractors to resume abandoned projects. Supporters point to commissions of roads in various areas and commitments to broader development.
However, critics, including opposition voices, have accused the government of prioritizing certain projects while leaving key legacy or high-impact routes like this one in disrepair. No immediate official response from the governor’s office to today’s open letter was available at the time of reporting.
Residents and users demand urgent rehabilitation over further assurances. The situation underscores long-standing challenges with federal-state coordination on infrastructure in Nigeria, where strategic roads often fall into neglect amid political and funding disputes.
As economic pressures and road fatalities rise, pressure is building on both state and federal authorities to act decisively on the Ore–Okitipupa corridor before more lives and livelihoods are lost.
