• Government to begin repair immediately, says Fayemi’s aide
Commuters and motorists plying the Ilawe-Ado road in Ekiti State, especially those travelling to Ondo State, Lagos and Abuja were left stranded yesterday, as a portion of the road collapsed.
A large portion of the road at the Ilawe end of the road, which collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday, impeded the free flow of traffic on the route.
Recall that Akure-Ikere-Ado road, a major road linking Ondo State, recently became impassable, leaving motorists to use the Ilawe-Ado road as an alternative.
The Guardian learnt that the area witnessed a landslide as a result of water flowing from nearby rocks, which penetrated underground, coupled with heavy vehicular traffic in the area.
The traditional ruler, the Alawe of Ilawe, Oba Adebanji Ajibade Alabi, who made an on-the-spot assessment, yesterday, lamented the deplorable state of the road.
The monarch called for urgent government intervention to reduce commuters’ suffering.
A distraught traveller, Oloruntoba Gabriel, lamented being at a spot for over four hours.
He said that many motorists could not leave the spot because of their vehicles, noting that some commuters either trekked or rode on Okada (motorcycles) to Ilawe town to get vehicles to continue their trip.
The traveller, who said he was on his way to Lagos for an assignment slated for today (Thursday), blamed the government for the collapsed portion of the road.
“This portion didn’t just collapse today. Those travelling through this route are aware that the portion showed signs of collapse for over a year now. Why should the government wait until it caves in, to do something about it?”
Another commuter, Seyi Cyril, who said he was on his way to Akure in Ondo State, said that he has no business plying the road if the Ado- Akure road had been fixed.
“If that road had been fixed, we won’t be in this mess. I think it is high time our governments took their responsibilities seriously, we can’t go on like that.
Special Adviser to the Ekiti State Governor on Roads and Infrastructure, Sunday Adunmo, who was at the scene of the incident, said It was a natural thing, adding that no one could stop the movement of water from the rock to the road.
He said: “It is a natural thing. It is just a run-off from the rock. You cannot stop the movement of water from the rock. It is not the collapse of a bridge. The rains were heavy, we are in the rainy season and buildings are springing up from the other side of the hill too.
“I think it started before now, it was the culmination of what has been happening there over the years. That was what led to the collapse of the road.
“We are moving in immediately, we have blocked the road to make way for an alternative. We are looking at Igede, making that place motorable as a link road, then we move back to fix the place as soon as possible.”