Oju Ore Road: Residents, Motorists Lament Five Years of Neglect in Ogun Community

Oju Ore Road in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State has become a major source of concern for residents, commercial transport operators and business owners, who say years of neglect have turned the busy road into a nightmare for motorists.

The Oju Ore Road, which links Oju Ore to Ilogbo and several surrounding communities, has deteriorated due to severe erosion and persistent flooding. Residents say the poor condition of the road has disrupted transportation, damaged vehicles and affected businesses operating in the area.

Commercial motorcyclists, tricycle operators and other road users who spoke with National Focus Newspaper expressed frustration over what they described as the government’s failure to rehabilitate the road despite its importance to thousands of commuters.

One of the commercial tricycle operators, Taofik Jimoh, said the Oju Ore Road has remained in a deplorable condition for about five years.

“The road has been like this for about five years. Sometimes TRACE officials come here whenever there is an accident or when vehicles get trapped in the flooded section. They usually help to pull the vehicles out,” he said.

Jimoh explained that the large pools of water covering parts of the road make it difficult for tricycle operators to move freely, forcing them to drive through floodwater on a daily basis.

According to him, the constant exposure to water has damaged many tricycles and increased maintenance costs for transport operators.

“The road has been like this for about five years. Sometimes TRACE officials come here whenever there is an accident or when vehicles get trapped in the flooded section. They usually help to pull the vehicles out,” he said.

The poor condition of the Oju Ore Road has also affected businesses operating along the route.

A shawarma seller, Opeyemi Babatunde, said the road has discouraged customers from visiting the area, leading to a significant decline in patronage.

According to him, frequent accidents caused by the damaged road have also become a major concern for residents and business owners.

“About two weeks ago, a tricycle suddenly fell into the flooded portion of the road. Incidents like this happen because the road is in a terrible condition,” he said.

Babatunde urged the Ogun State Government to prioritise the reconstruction of the Oju Ore Road, noting that many residents now leave their vehicles at home to avoid costly repairs caused by the damaged road surface.

He added that fixing the road would improve transportation, support local businesses and reduce the risk of accidents.

Residents also told National Focus Newspaper that many motorists coming from Sango now avoid the Oju Ore Road entirely, choosing alternative routes through Babio to reach their destinations.