Residents of Ogbomoso in Oyo State have called on both the federal and the state governments to dualize the major trunk A road in the city.
The residents, who spoke at the weekend, noted that this was necessary to avoid incessant road accidents on the road.
NEWSUNPLUG reports that at the last count, about 18 persons were said to have lost their lives in different road crashes in the area within one week.
Many others also sustained life-threatening injuries.
The road links Ogbomoso with other cities in the southern and northern parts of the country.
It falls between Agric – Arinkinkin High School – Caretaker – Takie – Sabo and Aroje. It is a long stretch of road about 7 to 8 kilometres.
Some of those who lost their lives in the accidents included three traditional rulers from Oriire Local Government Area. The deceased included: Olodogbo of Odogbo, Onibowula of Bowula and Alayetoro of Ayetoro.
They were on their way to the funeral party of the mother of a brother of one of the traditional rulers in the zone, Oloolo of Oolo Oba Oyebunmi Ajayi.
Also, three motorcyclists reportedly lost their lives in the Emaayo area, along the road.
Sadly too, at about 3:30 am on Saturday, nine persons reportedly got burnt beyond recognition at Sekona village when a petrol tanker fell, spilled its contents and caught fire, leading to the burning of the nine persons.
Also, on Saturday morning at the Caretaker/Ijeru Baptist Basic School area, a trailer reportedly crushed the legs of a commercial motorcyclist and his passenger.
Later in the afternoon of the same Saturday, a heavily-loaded logging truck/timber lorry was said to have lost control while descending the Sekoni hill towards Takie Square.
A commercial motorcyclist reportedly died as a result of the accident.
Irked by these multiple deaths, residents of the city have appealed to the governments to dualize the road.
The residents also urged the governments to construct flyover bridges in some strategic places such as Takie Square and Caretaker junction.
Mr Idowu Ashifa, while speaking on Saturday, appealed to the state government to come to their aid.
“I appeal to Governor Seyi Makinde to come to our aid by dualizing this road from Agric (Farm Settlement Scheme) to Aroje or Igbon.
“Only yesterday three traditional rulers died on the road. I heard of another one in the Emaayo area and two others today. If the road is dualized, head-on collisions will reduce,” he said.
Another resident, Michael Adegbosin had this to say:
“The way to reduce these road mishaps is for the government to make it a dual-carriageway so that head-on collisions will be reduced and it will allow drivers greater room for maneuvering in cases of emergencies.
“The road should also be returned to the Oyo State government for easy maintenance when the federal government completes the dual carriageway linking Ibadan to Ilorin through Oyo and Ogbomoso.”
Another resident, who begged not to be named, also called for construction of flyovers in some strategic locations.
“I believe if a flyover is constructed at Takie such an accident could have been averted.
“Takie roundabout is prone to accidents, therefore putting a flyover there will be a good solution. We appeal to Governor Makinde to construct an overhead bridge at this ever busy spot.
“After all, he once made a promise at Ogunlola Hall, Oja’gbo, to put up one. That was in his first tenure when Ogbomoso’s votes for him were even minimal; in this second term, we voted massively for him.
“Let him help us dualize the road and fulfill the promise of a flyover. The Caretaker junction should also have a flyover.”
