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.
“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.
Corroborating his position, another resident, Olaide Abimbola, gave a graphic account of some of the most affected routes within the state capital.
“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.
The complaints came at a time when an Osun-based civil society organisation, The Osun Masterminds, TOM, 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 and Oke-Fia axis, Olaiya and Ogo-Oluwa corridor and MDS, Oja-Oba and Ilesa Garage network as areas needing urgent rehabilitation.
He said the Dele-Yes-Sir and Oke-Fia road had failed sections and poor drainage, while roads around the Olaiya flyover and the route to Ogo-Oluwa suffered neglect, overflowing drainage channels, erosion and large potholes.
The group described the MDS, Oja-Oba and Ilesa Garage network as a major commercial route in Osogbo and urged the government to move beyond temporary repairs.
“Palliative measures must move beyond cosmetic stone-filling to durable, comprehensive engineering solutions that can withstand the elements and serve our people sustainably,” the group noted.
It urged the government to immediately declare a state of emergency on Osogbo township roads.
“The people of Osun did not vote for perpetual politicking; they voted for development, employment, security and infrastructural transformation,” Oyedokun-Alli said.
Earlier, another resident, Oluwaseyi Peter, had also appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to urgently address deteriorating road conditions and environmental sanitation challenges in the state capital.
Peter, who made the appeal in a letter to the governor, acknowledged the administration’s efforts towards infrastructural development across Osun State, particularly in Osogbo and other local government areas, while urging the government to intensify efforts.
“I write as a concerned and patriotic citizen of Osun State to express my appreciation for your administration’s efforts in advancing infrastructural development across the state, particularly in Osogbo, the state capital, and various local government areas,” Peter said.
He identified the deteriorating condition of major roads as a significant concern, noting that residents, motorists and business owners experience difficulties navigating roads riddled with potholes and damaged surfaces.
“The situation poses safety risks to road users and increases vehicle maintenance and repair costs, making urgent rehabilitation necessary,” he said.
Among the roads he identified for intervention are the routes from Aje Market through Dada Estate to Capital Area and Oke-Fia, as well as Orita Olaiya through Ogo Oluwa to Owode Road.
He also listed the Oja Oba to Ita Olokan to Ayepe route and the road from Orita Ayetoro through Testing Ground to Powerline Junction among the areas requiring attention.
Other roads mentioned include the route from the Lamaco Overhead Bridge through WOCDIF, Winners Junction, An-Nurudeen Grammar School and Ayekale Road to Koko Area along Ikirun Road, as well as the stretch from Winners Junction through Oke Onitea to Igbona Area.
Peter also raised concerns about poor environmental sanitation, alleging that roadside refuse dumping had become common in residential, commercial and market areas across the metropolis.
He stated that scavengers and strong winds often scatter refuse before collection, leaving streets littered and creating an unpleasant environment.
He recommended declaring an environmental sanitation emergency in Osogbo, strengthening refuse evacuation systems and deploying mobile waste collection trucks to designated locations at scheduled times daily to enable residents to dispose of their waste properly.
He urged Adeleke and relevant government agencies to give the concerns priority, expressing hope that comprehensive action would improve infrastructure and environmental standards in the state capital and other parts of Osun State.
