Bad roads chase away customers from Ogun businesses

The terrible state of Pipeline Road in Arepo, Ogun State, is hurting small businesses. Traders and artisans are complaining about fewer customers, too much dust, flooding, and trouble getting to their shops.

Business owners told our reporter that the road becomes really hard to use after it rains. Motorists and residents have to drive through muddy areas and over rocks placed in the mud to get by.

They said the bad road is making customers stay away. Some drivers now park far from their shops or take other routes.

A foodstuff seller, who has been in the area for over 11 years but wants to remain anonymous, said the road is hurting her sales. Motorists often choose other routes instead of coming to her shop.

She said, "It affects a lot because people and cars are not passing through this place to buy things. They use other roads, like Journalists Estate Road, to go and buy things.

"You know that road is much better than this place. That’s why we don’t have good sales here."

The trader also mentioned that flooding during rains makes it hard for her to display her goods and run her business.

"At times, water will flood here, and I won’t be able to put my coal pot down to sell," she added.

Ruth Iwegbu, a Point of Sale operator and shoe seller, said the road has been in bad shape for the 13 years she has lived in Arepo. She has operated her business there for four years.

Iwegbu noted that the road has pushed away potential customers, especially those she meets at church and social events who she invites to buy from her.

She said, "The bad road is really very bad for business because many people don’t want to come to this place.

"People don’t want to come this way because of the bad road. It’s really affecting our business."

Iwegbu explained that residents and business owners used to come together every December to fix the road, but that stopped two years ago.

"Usually, we come together in December to grade the road and do something to the road every December. But for like two years now, they have not done that because the government has done the main road, but for this one, they have not," she said.

She asked the government to help fix the road.

"If they can consider this place too, we’ll be very grateful," Iwegbu added.

A cobbler, Ola, who has been in business since 2008, said the bad road is especially a problem during rainy season. Some customers complain about driving into the area.

Ola said this situation has made things harder for his business. Some customers even ask him to come to them instead.

He added that an attempt by the estate to fix the road was stopped after concerns about a pipeline.

"There was a time the estate really wanted to do it, but I think they said due to the pipeline, they were not able to do it. They demolished what they had done. So, I think that’s why they abandoned the road," he said.

Ola suggested that interlocking stones could be a good option if they cannot tar the road.

"If they can tar it or put interlocking stones, it’s fine," he said.

Meanwhile, a tailor named Olamide said the dust from the road is also a big problem for businesses. Olamide has been running her business there for four years.

She said the bad road makes it hard for customers to reach her shop.

"Dust, too. So much dust gets on my goods, and customers are not able to come to my place because of the bad road," she said.

Olamide mentioned that she talked to her landlord about the issue, but she is not aware of any action taken by the government or community leaders.

She asked the authorities to help fix the road.

"They should help us fix this road. If they fix it for us, we’re going to be happy," Olamide said.

A barber named Iyanu, who has been in the area for about a year, said the state of the road makes it hard for customers to access businesses along that route.

Iyanu said some customers have to park their vehicles far away before coming to shop.

He noted that the road has been in bad shape for about four to five years or even longer.

"Some customers have to park their cars somewhere else before they can come here," he said.

Iyanu also called on the government to fix the road.

"They should help us and try to fix the road," he added.

The chairman of the community said they have tried to fix the road, which is called Pipeline Road.

He explained that the road goes through several Community Development Associations, including Balogun, Church, parts of Abule, and Beachland Estate.

He said the CDAs have spent a lot of money on temporary repairs, but the rain washes them away.

"The CDAs have spent a lot of money to do palliative work on that road, but there is a limit to what they can do. Whenever there is rain, it washes it off," he said.

The chairman mentioned that the Federal Ministry of Works, with help from some stakeholders, started work on the road by installing interlocking stones.

But this work stopped after about 300 meters because of challenges with NNPC and military officers in the area.

He explained that they need approval from NNPC before heavy machines can be used because of pipelines in the area.

"One is to get approval from the NNPC because no one will just put heavy-duty machines to excavate because of the pipes," he said.

The chairman’s comments added another layer to the worries of business owners, who want the road fixed for easier access.

Traders believe fixing the road will help movement for motorists and customers and boost business in the area.