Residents, commuters groan over poor state of Akure roads
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Motorists as well as residents in Akure, the Ondo state capital, have lamented the deplorable condition of road network within the city which they said is exposing them to more hardship.
Areas mostly affected include; Ile-Alanu, Idanre road, Aule road, Airways area along Ilesha motor park, Oyemekun road, Danjuma by pass, Shagari/Irese road among others.
The aggrieved motorists who spoke with journalists decried lack of maintenance on the roads, thereby subjecting the road users to untold hardship.
They stated that most of the roads are full of potholes due to the negligence on the part of those saddled with the responsibility of fixing them.
Cab drivers who are worst hit by the poor state of these roads,, said the bad roads have caused heavy damages on their vehicles and cost them more money to fix them.
A taxi driver, Idowu Adewale decried the poor condition of Akure road network, saying, “The roads get worse during rainy period and it’s unfortunate, that no attention has been given to these roads most of which has become death traps for residents, Okada riders and motorists.
“Many Okada riders have lost their lives, while the luckiest one among them ended up having broken legs from avoidable accidents owing to bad roads.
“Most of them, in an attempt to dodge potholes, lost control and rammed into oncoming vehicles and lost their lives or confined to wheelchairs for the rest of their lives”.
Some residents said they have resorted to trekking long distances to their various homes as cabs and Okada riders have refused to convey them over poor shape of the road networks, saying the few who agree to go would charge them exorbitantly.
The commuters, however, appealed to the State Government, to as a matter of urgency, expedite actions towards rehabilitating the bad portions of the roads which according to them, would alleviate the sufferings it’s exposing residents to.