Ogbagi Akoko, Ondo State — August 4, 2025
Residents of Ogbagi Akoko, a community in Akoko North-West Local Government Area of Ondo State, took to the streets this week to protest the appalling condition of roads linking their town to neighboring communities. The peaceful demonstration saw scores of residents — including youth groups, market women, transport operators, and traditional leaders — calling on the government to urgently address the decades-long neglect.
Holding placards with inscriptions such as “Fix Our Roads Now”, “Bad Roads, Bad Economy”, and “We Deserve Better”, the demonstrators marched along the dilapidated Ogbagi-Arigidi and Ogbagi-Akunnu routes, which have become nearly impassable, especially during the rainy season.
A Daily Struggle
According to residents, the poor state of the roads has crippled economic activities, made transportation dangerous, and increased the cost of goods and services. Farmers in particular have lamented the difficulty of transporting their produce to larger markets in Ikare and Akure, often resulting in heavy losses.
“This is no longer just an inconvenience — it’s a crisis,” said Mrs. Ronke Ajayi, a local trader. “We are tired of promises from politicians. Every rainy season, these roads turn into rivers, and transporters refuse to come. We suffer, and our businesses suffer.”
Mr. Tunde Alabi, a commercial motorcyclist, described the roads as “death traps,” recounting several accidents caused by deep potholes, erosion, and lack of drainage infrastructure.
A Long History of Neglect
Community leaders say that multiple appeals to both the state and federal governments have gone unanswered. “This protest is not political,” said Chief Olorunfemi Ogunlade, a respected elder in the community. “It is a desperate cry for attention. Our people are cut off, and our youths are leaving the town in search of better living conditions.”
Locals allege that government officials often visit during election campaigns with promises of rehabilitation, only to disappear after votes are secured. The last major repair work, they say, was carried out over a decade ago and has since deteriorated completely.
Government Reaction
As of the time of this report, the Ondo State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure had not released an official statement. However, sources within the local government hinted that the road is on the list of priority infrastructure projects submitted for the upcoming fiscal year — a promise residents say they’ve heard too many times before.
A Call for Action
Civil society groups in the region are urging both the state and federal governments to treat the Ogbagi road rehabilitation as an emergency, noting its strategic importance in connecting multiple towns and boosting rural commerce.
“We’re not asking for miracles, just for basic infrastructure,” said Kehinde Adebayo, leader of the Akoko Youth Front. “Development cannot happen in isolation. A community without good roads is already excluded from progress.”
As the protest ended peacefully, with a strong show of community unity, the message from Ogbagi Akoko is clear: neglect can no longer be ignored, and the time for action is now.
By
