Ogun Residents Petition Federal Ministry Of Works, Ogun Govt, Others Over Oju-Ore Gridlock, Demand Immediate Rehabilitation, Upgrading Of Alternative Routes

L-R: Oluwafemi Omowumi representing AFED, Alhaji Akeem Adeyinka Aremu, representing the Ado-Odo/Ota Zonal CDC; Comrade Olajumoke Odeyemi, Chairperson Ado-Odo Ota Civil Society Group on Road Infrastructure, Engr. Anyanwu Fabian, Chairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Ota Branch; and Comrade Jaiyesimi Olajide, of the Ota Sub- road monitoring.

Ado-Odo\Ota Citizen Engagement Platform conveyed a Press Conferece on Saturday 6^th September 2025, at AFED Secretariat, No.29, Bolanle Awosika Street, Off Ilogbo Road, Oju-Ore, Sango-Ota, Ogun State, as a follow up to the petition submitted to the Honourable Minister Of Works, on the urgent need to address the worsening gridlock at Oju-Ore, Ado- Odo Ota Local Govt Area.

Mrs Olajumoke Odeyemi, the Chairperson on Road Infrastructure, Ado-Odo\Ota Division stated that the petition, which was endorsed by 1,127 Citizens in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government raises urgent concern over the Social Economic Hardship caused by the ongoing Federal Government Construction of Oju-Ore Flyover. "While the long term benefits of the project are highly commendable. The current implementation as we can see, has severe challenges including; unbearable traffic gridlock that paralyses daily commuting, highten accidents for motorists and pedestrians, severe delays resulting in lots of productive hardship and higher transport fare, restricted movement of goods and services and in business and escalating economic stress and health burdens on residents, which is very key.

"To mitigate these impacts, Citizens recommend Urgent Rehabilitation And Upgrading Of Seven Critical Alternative Routes that serve as Byepasses. Namely; Iya Ijebu Junction, Through Afobaje to Obasanjo Road, Papa Aro-Itele Road Corridor. All for God Road connecting Ahmadiya Road via Papa Aro. Baby O Bus\ Stop, Linked Road to Jendol Transversing Ilogbo Road. Access Road Beside Grocery Bazar (GB) connecting Papa Aro Road. Olopo, Onimaalu Road, linking to Ilogbo Road. Borehole to Ilogbo Road, through Martins, Salvation Estate to Idi-Iroko Road via Mobil Filling Station, Ambassadors Road."

"If these Roads are Urgently Rehabilitated And Cleared of Encumberances, Congestion at Oju-Ore will be eased, journey time will be reduced. Simply, Improved Economic Activities in Ogun State Busiest Industrial Hub restored by all this actions, if taken.

"For the sake of Transparency And Accountability, Copies Of Petion that were signed by 1,127 persons were all sent to the following persons; the Honorable Commissioner, Ogun State Ministry Of Works and Infrasructure, the Managing Director Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), Distinguished Senator Ogun State West Senatorial District, the Honorable member House of Representatives, Ado-Odo\Ota Federal Constituency, the Executive Chairman Ado-Odo\Ota Local Government Council, the Honourable member Ogun State House Of Assembly, Ado-Odo\Ota Constituency I, the Project Supervisor/ Contractor, Oju-Ore Flyover Project.

Ado-Odo\Ota Citizens engagement Platform commend the Honorable member Ogun  State House of Assembly, representing Ado-Odo\Ota for reading this petition on the floor of the House, thereby drawing Legislative Attention to the Plight of Ado-Odo\Ota.

"The ultimate responsibility lies with the Federal Ministry Of Works, Ogun State Government and Implementing Agency to act without delay. The Ado-Odo\Ota Citizen Engagement Platform reaffirms that this advocacy is the demonstration of Civic Duty, not Confrontation at all. Our demand is very simple.

“We are asking for Inclusive, Responsive and Accountable Infrastructure Development that serves the entire people of Ado-Odo\Ota.

“We express our gratitude to the Nigerian Union of Journalists, Independent Online Chapel Ota for Supporting this Advocacy as part of Community Social Responsibility and for Amplifying The Voices of Citizens In Pursuit Of Good Governance. God bless us and God will continue to be with us. I remain yours in Ado–Odo\Ota Citizens Engagement Platform, Olajumoke Odeyemi, the Coordinator On Road Infrastructure, thank you.”

The chairmain of Nigerian Society of Engineer Ado-Odo\Ota branch, Engineer Fabian Anyanwu, further stated that it is very important to make alternative routes available for the construction of Oju-Ore flyover. “We in our own capacity as the Nigerian Society of Engineers are trying in or own part to do something about the roads, especially Papa-Aro route. What we are saying in essence is that , if the government can give a listening ear and hearken to the voices that Citizenship are amplifying, it will go a long way to ease traffic gridlock in Oju-Ore. Some of our colleague engineers that work in various Industries and Institutions here usually spend hours on the way going to their various places of work. So if the alternative roads are fixed, it will enable the road users and commuter bus drivers to enjoy free flow of trafiic and workers within the vicinity will be able to get to their work places and destinations easily within the twinkle of an eye and without any stress.”

The representative of Chairman, Ado-Odo Ota Community Development  Committee, Alhaji Onaolapo  Rasaq Olatunji, Alhaji Adeyinka Abdul Waheed Aremu, Baameto Oruba Of Awori land laments that the traffic gridlock is really affecting the commuters as they are the ones bearing the brunt. Despite the fact that our House of Reps member, Honourable Sherif Ibema has presented our petition at the floor of the House, but there is no push. That is why all the roads mentioned above still remain in bad condition. According to Baameto of Awori, the suffering and hardship being experienced by commuters as a result of deplorable conditions of these alternative routes usually heightened and terrible during the rainy season, as commuter bus drivers and okada riders usually exploit the residents by inflating the prices of the transport fares. This, he described as sheer wickedness! “Though we appreciate the kind gesture of the Federal Government but the fact that they are constructing the road does not mean we should empty all our pockets” we are calling and pleading with the Government to please help us fix the alternative roads in order to alleviate the suffering and hardship that the construction of Oju-Ore flyover is causing the residents and commuters of Ado-Odo\Ota Local Government area on a daily basis.  

Mr Jaiyesimi Olajide, member of Ado-Odo\Ota Citizens/Civic Society on Monitoring also stated “our major complaint right from the beginning of the Project is about the alternative roads. All our efforts to get in touch with the contractor for interaction is always meet with brickwalls. The deplorable states of all the alternative roads has caused a lot of health challenges to citizens living within that vicinity and has generated a lot of serious issue to us. So we are appealing to whoever in charge to please come to our aid and ensure that all the alternative routes are fixed”.

Mrs Oluwafemi Omowumi, a representative of African Foundation also implores the Federal Government to please come to their aid and fix the alternative routes to reduce the stress and frustration of the people. “Our businesses are suffocating, please do something, so that there can be a stress free movement and members of the community will be happy”, she added.

Response To The Letter Fowarded To The Honourable Miniser Of Works

Mrs Olajumoke revealed that they have not heard any response from the constituted authority since the letter endorsed by 1,127 citizens, sent via DHL. In spite of the fact that Office of the Honourable Minister for Works acknowledged the receipt of the letter.

Design, Commission, Completion And Cost Estimate Of The Road Project

The Chairman, Nigerian Society Of Engineers, Ota Branch, Engineer Fabian Osiagwu stated that “when the project started, precisely the one in front of Canaanland, Winners Chapel. We had an Industrial\Technical visit to the site. And we are able to meet with the project engineer. But it is highly unfortunate that as big as the project is, the scope is not specific. Even the project engineer does not know the timeline. He made us to understand that when the project started, the communities that are being affected by the project have been complaining about how the drainage system was done. Firstly, after the market stalls were demolished some metres away from the road. The drainage system did not get to where the demolition got to. Apart from that, the size of the drainage system is a concern for the communities around. Except by now they would have had a scope or timeline. But as at when this project started and we visited, there was neither timeline nor scope of the project,” he said.