Ondo: Youths protest deplorable roads, other infrastructure in Irekari communities

…. Lament exclusion of LCDA from government’s construction plans

Youths in Irekari communities of Idoani, Idogun, Imeri and Afo in Ose Local Government area of Ondo State, on Wednesday took to the streets to protest the deplorable condition of roads and other decayed infrastructure in their communities.

The peaceful protesters who carried placards with various inscriptions said the devastating condition of access roads have brought untold hardship to residents and caused repeated damage to vehicles.

The youths appealed to the Federal and the Ondo State Governments to urgently rehabilitate the roads in order to protect lives and revive economic activities of communities in the LCDA.

Leaders of the protesting youths specifically appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to please remember the axis.

Beyond the issue of roads, the protesters also decried lack of electricity supply, dysfunctional health facilities and an inactive magistrate court, challenges they said are worsened by the poor state of roads, which discourage workers and service providers from remaining in the communities.

The youths further accused a marble company operating in Afo of aggravating the roads through the movement of heavy-duty trucks. They urged government to channel part of the tax revenue from the company into road rehabilitation.

They expressed disappointment over the exclusion of Irekari LCDA from the recently announced “Operation Emergency Road Construction” programme of the state government.

The two access roads to the communities are Ipele-Idoani-Isua Federal road and the Oba-Ikun-Afo road. However over the years, the roads have been in deplorable condition, leaving commuters with excruciating pains.

The roads are crucial to the economic activities of the axis but neither the Ondo state government nor the federal government responded to the cry of the people.

Worried by the continuous ugly experience on the roads, indegines resorted to self-help by contributing money to provide some remedial works especially on the Ipele-Idoani-Isua road.

However, their efforts appeared to be a drop in the ocean. The road has damaged beyond what individuals could repair.

With no hope in sight, the youths in the area have vowed to sustain their protests until relevant authorities respond to their demands.