Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have raised alarm over the worsening condition of internal roads across the metropolis, describing the situation as deplorable, dangerous and unacceptable for a state capital.
The residents, who spoke in separate complaints on Saturday, said many major roads and inner streets have deteriorated into pothole-ridden stretches, with failed asphalt, poor drainage and gully erosion making movement difficult and hazardous for motorists, motorcyclists, pedestrians and business owners.
Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, a resident, Adeyemo Ibrahim expressed deep frustration over the state of infrastructure in the city, noting that the roads have become death traps that endanger lives and damage vehicles on a daily basis.
He lamented that what should be routine maintenance has been neglected, leaving residents to navigate craters that could cause avoidable accidents.
“I am deeply disappointed by the deplorable state of roads in the city. Potholes are everywhere, some so deep and dangerous that they pose serious risks to motorists, motorcyclists and pedestrians. These are potential death traps that can cause fatal accidents and damage vehicles,” Ibrahim said.
According to him, the condition of the roads raises serious questions about governance priorities in the state, stressing that road maintenance is not a privilege but a fundamental duty of government to the people.
“How can a state capital be left with such dangerous roads? Must we wait for avoidable accidents and loss of lives before the authorities take action? Road maintenance is not a favour to the people; it is a basic responsibility of government,” he queried.
Ibrahim added that Osun residents deserve better infrastructure and responsive leadership that prioritises the safety and welfare of citizens over political considerations.
“The people of Osun deserve better. Governance should be about protecting lives, providing essential infrastructure and responding to the needs of the people, not merely occupying public office,” he stated.
Corroborating his position, another resident, Olaide Abimbola, gave a graphic account of some of the most affected routes within the state capital.
She listed several corridors that have become impassable, especially during and after rainfall when the potholes are filled with water and difficult to detect.
“From Ita-Olokan to Oke-Ayepe and Idi-Omo to Sabo is very bad. From Kolabalogun to Testing Ground too. Olaiya to Ogo-Oluwa, Dele-Yes-Sir to Oke-Fia is an eyesore,” Abimbola said.
“Ministry of Works should do something, please. We are begging. These roads are what we use every day to go to work, to take our children to school, to go to the market. The suffering is too much,” she added.
The complaints by residents come at a time when an Osun-based civil society organisation, The Osun Masterminds (TOM), has also called on the Osun State Government to shift attention from politics to governance, urging it to prioritise infrastructure, employment, healthcare and grassroots development.
The call was contained in its October 2026 State of the State address delivered by its Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, on Saturday in Osogbo.
Oyedokun-Alli said the gubernatorial election cycle had ended and residents should begin to enjoy the dividends of democracy rather than continued political campaigns.
TOM decried the poor condition of several internal roads in Osogbo, listing the Dele-Yes-Sir/Oke-Fia axis, Olaiya/Ogo-Oluwa corridor and MDS/Oja-Oba/Ilesa Garage network as areas needing urgent rehabilitation.
According to the coalition, the deteriorating roads, marked by potholes, failed asphalt, poor drainage and erosion, have worsened the plight of motorists, commuters and business owners, and are emblematic of infrastructural abandonment in the state capital.
The group urged the state government to immediately declare a state of emergency on township roads in Osogbo and commence comprehensive, durable rehabilitation, rather than cosmetic stone-filling.
“Palliative measures must move beyond cosmetic stone-filling to durable, comprehensive engineering solutions that can withstand the elements and serve our people sustainably,” TOM noted.
Commenting on a Facebook post about that state of road in the capital city, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Bureau of Social Services (BOSS), Akintunde Sheriff, acknowledged the concerns and assured residents that the administration is not oblivious to their plight.
Sheriff said government is already devoting attention to the affected roads and that physical interventions should be expected soon.
“The administration is aware of the sorry state of some of the important roads within the metropolis, including this essential road. Necessary attention is being devoted, which is anticipated to bear meaningful physical intervention before too long.
“The people are implored to note that their Government is not unaware of their struggles. We can’t be blind to the public plight,” he said.
