Ogun State blames road damage on blocked drains, urges proper waste disposal

The Ogun State Government has said that the recent damage to a part of the Car Wash, Moore Junction Road in Abeokuta happened because residents are dumping waste into drainage channels. They warned that this practice can seriously harm public infrastructure and community safety.

The government explained that their initial findings showed that waste dumped into the drains blocked the flow of stormwater during a heavy rain. This blockage caused water pressure to build up, which weakened the road in the affected area.

In a statement signed by Kayode Akinmade, Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, the government rejected claims that the damage was due to poor construction or bad materials.

The statement said the drainage system built for the road was well designed to handle stormwater runoff. However, the rubbish piling up caused blockages that stopped the water from flowing freely.

All materials used for the road construction were tested for quality and met, or even exceeded, the required standards. The contractor responsible for the project is a well-known construction company that has many years of experience in delivering quality infrastructure.

“The incident was not due to any flaw in the road construction. Investigations show that the blockage of drainage channels by waste dumped carelessly by residents stopped the water from flowing, leading to the damage after the rain,” the statement said.

The statement also mentioned that the contractor and engineers from the Ogun State Ministry of Works are currently on-site to assess the damage. They plan to start immediate repairs to fix the affected part of the road and ensure safety for road users.

While the government promised to maintain important infrastructure across the state, they emphasized that residents also have a duty to protect public assets. They warned that dumping waste in drainage channels not only destroys roads but also causes flooding, harms the environment, raises public health risks, damages properties, and wastes public resources.

The government called on communities, market groups, transport unions, religious bodies, and residents to support environmental clean-up efforts and educate their members about the dangers of dumping waste carelessly.

They also urged residents to report anyone seen dumping waste into drains to the right authorities for action. The government said that keeping public infrastructure safe requires everyone to work together and cooperate. They promised to keep taking steps to protect lives, property, and public investments in the state.

The Ogun State Government reiterated its commitment to quickly fixing the damaged road while increasing awareness campaigns to prevent similar problems in the future.