Residents of Ajebo Ifakale at Sagamu in Ogun State have called on the government to build a road and bridge across Erinyo River, which connects Ifakale to other areas.
Chairman of Ifakale Ajebo Community Development Association (CDA), Sunday Adebayo, lamented whenever it rains, the erosion seems like a death sentence to residents.
He said,
“The erosion has been a death sentence for people living in this community and its environs. Many people lost their valuables. People often drown in the river because it is impassable once the rains come. One of the victims was my younger brother. He drowned in July 2022.
“We have thousands living in this community and this is the only road. But once it rains, we are in trouble. Our children can’t go to school, traders can’t go to the market, even office workers stay back home because the road becomes impassable. We appeal to the government to come to our aid”.
A resident, Mrs. Mariam Adebiyi, corroborated Adebayo, saying,
“During raining season, we always have a lot of flood.
“We can’t go anywhere even if its an emergency”.
Mrs. Adebiyi said contestants always come during electioneering to seek votes and make promises, ‘but they forget about the community and our plight afterwards,’ she said.
An Itapara Ifakale resident, Mr. Sulaimon Kehinde said,
“Ifakale has always been challeneged. A police station was built about one year ago, and a court has just been built. But the court can’t hold proceedings because of this Erinyo River since you can’t bring criminals to court and be delayed by the river.
“The river is channelled from Ogijo axis thorugh Erinyo, Ifakale, Ajebo and Imede. It is the only route that comes from Odonguyan-Odokekere to Ajebo, Ifakale, Imede, and its the only road that connects us to the world. But it’s a mess. We want the government to come to our aid. We need a high culvert so the river can flow freely and we will have our life back”.