Residents of Sodeke-Titun Ilupeju, Oke Odo and 22 other communities in Sabo area of Abeokuta North Local Government Area, on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest to demand urgent intervention from Governor Dapo Abiodun over a dilapidated bridge threatening their access to neighbouring communities.
The protesters, who turned out in large numbers, warned that the only bridge linking their communities to the Lafenwa-Sabo axis was on the verge of collapse, raising fears of imminent isolation.
Displaying placards with inscriptions such as “Asejere CDA Needs Government Intervention, Please Help!”, “No Road, No Bridge, Yet You Tax Us”, and “Save Our Communities from Isolation”, the residents decried what they described as years of neglect and government inaction.
Speaking during the protest, the community chairman, Alhaji Kamilu Sanusi, said the deteriorating condition of the bridge had subjected residents to severe hardship.
He described the structure as a critical economic and social lifeline, warning that it had become a death trap, especially during the rainy season.
Sanusi said, “We have written several Save Our Souls letters to Abeokuta North Local Government and other relevant authorities, but nothing has been done. We can no longer continue to suffer in silence while our communities face the threat of complete isolation.”
He added that repeated community-funded repairs had failed to provide lasting relief due to the extent of the damage.
Other residents said they had resorted to self-help over the years, contributing funds to keep the bridge motorable, but lamented that the burden had become unsustainable.
They noted that commercial drivers and motorcyclists had largely abandoned the route due to its poor condition, forcing residents to trek long distances to access transportation.
Some of the protesters, including Alhaja Morin Olayinka, Mrs Bisi Badejo, Imam AbdulWahab Odejimi and Adegbola Ismail, appealed to the state government to urgently rehabilitate the bridge and adjoining roads.
They warned that a total collapse would cut off thousands of residents, noting that alternative routes were in worse condition.
Also speaking, the Central Area Chairman in Sabo, Dr Adekunle Adesola, urged the governor to act swiftly to avert a looming disaster.
He said the situation posed a serious risk to lives and property, particularly during the rainy season when erosion further weakens the structure.
Adesola stressed that prompt intervention would not only ease residents’ hardship but also prevent possible tragedies involving schoolchildren, commuters and other road users.
The residents, therefore, called on the Ogun State Government and relevant authorities to treat the matter as an emergency and commence immediate rehabilitation of the bridge.
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