Commuters and motorists using the Ibadan-Oyo Road have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently intervene in the road’s deteriorating condition.

The road users said the poor state of the road had caused delays, inconvenience and increased transportation costs for motorists and passengers travelling between Ibadan and Oyo.

The Oyo State Elite Group also expressed concern over the road’s condition, calling for greater attention to critical infrastructure needs in the state.

In a statement, its President, Segun Adewumi, described the Ibadan-Ilorin Road as an important transportation corridor connecting communities and supporting commercial activities within Oyo State and beyond.

The group said the Ibadan-Iseyin Road, constructed by the Seyi Makinde administration, had provided an alternative route for some commuters and helped reduce the pressure on the Ibadan-Oyo Road.

It said the alternative route had eased transportation challenges for motorists and commuters, underscoring the need for sustained investment in road infrastructure.

The group said commuters still face difficulties on the Ibadan-Oyo highway despite the Federal Government’s recent approval of road projects worth N1.137 trillion across Oyo State.

Approved projects include the N276 billion dualisation of the Ilorin-Ogbomoso Road; the N217 billion dualisation of the old alignment from Ijawaya to Federal Government College, Ilorin Road, with a spur to Akinmorin; and the N265 billion reconstruction of the Iseyin-Eruwa-Agbesi Road in Oyo and Kwara states.

Others are the N110 billion Ogbomoso-Oko-Illupu Road in Oyo and Osun states; N98 billion construction of the 30-kilometre Idi-Araba-Ayede-Olodo Road in Oyo State; N82 billion rehabilitation of Igbeti Road; N74 billion construction of the Igbeti-Soro-Kishi Road; and N15.5 billion construction of the 13-kilometre Badeku-Jaiye Road.

The Oyo State Elite Group said the approval of the projects did not remove the need for urgent intervention on the Ibadan-Oyo Road, which it said still affects commuters and businesses.

It urged President Tinubu and the Federal Ministry of Works to assess the highway and take appropriate steps to rehabilitate it.

The group also called on APC lawmakers representing Oyo State in the National Assembly to intensify advocacy for the road’s rehabilitation and draw the Federal Government’s attention to their constituents’ concerns.

It said federal lawmakers had a responsibility to advocate for infrastructure development, improved road safety and the welfare of their constituents.

The group added that rehabilitating the Ibadan-Oyo corridor would ease the movement of people and goods, reduce transportation difficulties and support commercial activities across the state.

It urged the Federal Government to ensure timely implementation of approved infrastructure projects and address commuters’ concerns about the Ibadan-Oyo road. (The Nation)