By Sunday Awosoro

The sight of rain is usually a nightmare for Tayo Bayonle. This was not a problem when his major means of transportation was his old motorcycle. However, since he bought a car in December 2022, he had not enjoyed his ride whenever it rained. This is as a result of the bad state of the road that connects his street to other parts of the town.

“If the rain meets me at home, just know that there is no going out with the car that day. If it meets me on the way, I have to find a place and park because I can't take it home. If I try it, I will surely visit a mechanic the next day,” he laments.

Mr Bayonle has been a tenant at Surulere street in the Textile area of Ado-Ekiti for seven years. With no hope of change, he now considers complete relocation from the vicinity.

This is the plight of many car owners who live in this street.

In 2019, Hon. Oladimeji Sunday, former federal lawmaker representing Ado/Irepodun-Ifelodun nominated a road construction project to alleviate the suffering of residents of this street. The project which had the budget of N60.777 Million and placed under the supervision of the Nigerian Building & Road Research (NBRRI), had the title: “CONSTRUCTION AND ASPHALTING OF 1.64KM INTERNAL ROAD NETWORK AT SURULERE STREET /OKE-IBUKUN, ISINLA COMMUNITY,TEXILE AREA, ADO EKITI, ADO/IREPODUN/IFELODUN FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, EKITI STATE”.

Upon visitation in March 2023, UDEME discovered that this project had not been executed. Walking down the littered street, the impact of erosion was visible on several parts of the road.

Having lived in the community since 2017, Mary Akindele, a mother of two said the lack of good roads has led to flooding in the area.

“You will not see much right now. You come when it has just rained, you will be seeing people bringing out their beds to spread. It is terrible,” she complained.

The residents however pleaded with the government to come to their aid.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Chief Aboba Adeyemo who was the community chairman when the project was nominated said that he has no idea as to why the project has not been executed.

He said: “I knew about the project when it was nominated in 2019. The people that live in that street are not enjoying the road at all. Unfortunately, the then lawmaker is no longer in office. But please, help us beg the government not to forget us here.”

As at the time of writing this report, we are yet to get any information from the former lawmaker, Mr Sunday. His only known line has been switched off and an alternative is yet to be gotten.

SUMMARY

Title of Project: CONSTRUCTION AND ASPHALTING OF 1.64KM INTERNAL ROAD NETWORK AT SURULERE STREET /OKE-IBUKUN, ISINLA COMMUNITY,TEXILE AREA, ADO EKITI, ADO/IREPODUN/IFELODUN FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY, EKITI STATE.

Type of Project: Zonal Intervention Project.

Location: Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Ekiti LGA, Ekiti state.

Year: 2019.

Budget: N60.777 Million.

Agency: Nigerian Building & Road Research (NBRRI).

Ministry: SCIENCE & TECH.

Status: Not done.