Ogun Residents Cry Out Over Bad Road Affecting Their Businesses

Residents living along the Agbado-Ijoko Road in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State are complaining about the bad state of the road. They say it has harmed businesses, disrupted transport, and made it hard to move around the area.

The residents spoke with our reporters during a visit to their communities. They said the road has been in this poor condition for several years. This situation has made it difficult for drivers and commuters to reach their homes and workplaces.

PUNCH Metro reported in June 2026 that people from Agbado, Abule-Ijoko, Itoki, Ope-Ilu, and nearby communities had complained about the road conditions. They said the bad roads have been a problem for more than 15 years.

The report highlighted that the section linking Agbado Oja to Abule-Ijoko, which is about 13 kilometers long, has fallen apart. Some parts are barely usable, while others are completely blocked.

During a recent visit, our reporters saw that parts of the road were left unattended. Vehicles could not use these sections anymore. Some areas were muddy and full of potholes, while stagnant water had taken over other parts of the road. Some vehicles were stuck in the mud as drivers tried to get through the potholes.

The poor road condition has forced drivers and residents to look for alternative routes through nearby streets. However, the residents say those streets are also in bad shape.

A resident of Itoki, Jamiu Raimi, has lived in the community for 20 years. He remembered that the road used to be good. He said a trip from his home to Agbado used to take about 10 minutes. Now, it takes over an hour. He added that the lack of buses has made people depend on motorcycles.

Raimi said, “When I started staying in Itoki, the road was good, but now the road is nothing to write about. People’s cars are getting spoilt and we don’t see buses again. We now use motorcycles, but it is not safe because of the condition of the road.

“Before, it took about 10 minutes to get to Agbado from where I stay, but now it can take more than one hour. Whenever it rains, it becomes difficult to get buses to take us to our destinations.”

He mentioned that the transport challenges have made it hard for him to get to work. Sometimes, he only returns home twice a week because finding transport after work is tough. He said the government once brought sand to fix the road, but it got worse after it rained.

Raimi, who is also a landlord, noted that the situation has affected the rental market. He claimed some residents are leaving the community while new tenants are hesitant to rent there. He urged the government to fix the road, stating that the rising transport costs are becoming too much for residents.

Another resident, Mrs Modupe Olaniran, a trader in Rafco, has lived in Adebimpe for 10 years. She said the bad road has hurt her business and those of other traders. Olaniran mentioned that her transport costs have gone up because of the road’s condition.

She said, “The road has been bad for more than 10 years. When I want to take my goods to sell, I spend more on transportation because of the condition of the road, and this has really affected my business.

“People are also selling their houses because of the bad road. The road has affected many businesses in the area.”

Olaniran also spoke about Idiroko Road, which she said has been neglected for a long time. This road is now waterlogged, making it hard for vehicles and buses to pass. She added that using that road often gives her body pains, making the experience exhausting.

Another resident, Alubarika Yinka, a commercial vehicle driver living in Opeilu along Agbado-Ijoko Road, said the road has been bad for a long time. He noted that buses have stopped using some parts of the road because of its state. Yinka added that vehicles that try to use the road often break down.

He said, “Motorists and residents have had to use nearby streets to reach their destinations, but those routes are also in bad shape.”

Some residents who can no longer drive to their homes are parking their vehicles around Agbado Bus Stop, which he described as dangerous. Tayo Odusanya added that the road gets worse during the rainy season. He said many commercial drivers spend more money fixing their vehicles.

Odusanya pointed out that the situation has also impacted businesses. He explained that heavy vehicles can no longer reach some road sections to deliver goods. He said, “Whenever it rains, vehicles cannot pass through the normal road. People now use the streets as alternative routes, and this has affected movement.

“Businesses have also dropped because heavy-duty vehicles cannot come to deliver goods. People cannot even visit some residents because cars cannot pass through the road.”

Odusanya also claimed that some individuals are collecting N100 to N200 from drivers using the alternative routes.

When asked about the situation, the Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, said the Akute-Agbado part of the road is being rebuilt. The commissioner mentioned that other sections will be fixed later.

Akinsanya said they expect the project to be finished before December, depending on the weather. He added that they have started laying the second layer of asphalt from the Akute side. He said, “The Akute-Agbado section is undergoing reconstruction, and other sections will be rehabilitated later.

“The completion of the project is dependent on rainfall, but it will be achieved before December. The second layer of asphalt has already commenced from the Akute end.