Residents Stranded As Flood Washes Away Oyo Bridge

On Thursday, residents and motorists in the Olodo community, situated in the Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan, Oyo State capital, urged Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene in addressing the challenging road conditions.

The PUNCH reports that the state government had awarded the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Iwo Road, which is a federal road, and the contractor handling the bridge assured the government that the first phase of the two-phase span would be completed early this year.

However, residents made this appeal when the only alternative route to ease the movement of people was washed away by a flood following a torrential rain early on Thursday.

The collapsed bridge is the only connecting link between Ibadan, the state capital and Iwo in Osun State.
Hundreds of commuters, travellers, and residents plying the alternative bridge were stranded as a result of the flood that overflowed and washed away the bridge.

There was heavy traffic as a result of the flood, leading to hours of waiting before road users could access the bridge.
Some of the motorists and residents of the area who spoke with our correspondent urged the governor to come to their aid.

A student of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Kazeem Alabi, said he spent almost one hour before he could pass the bridge.

Alabi said, “I can only appeal to the governor to help us talk to the contractor for speedy completion of the road. The alternative bridge was flooded. I cannot access it, and I’ve spent almost one hour here.”

A commercial driver, Abasi Olayemi, said, “We experienced a similar situation last year, and the rain had just started. We are appealing to both the governor and contractor to assist complete the road in time.”

A resident, Lekan Anjorin, said, “I was to join my colleagues at somewhere around Gbagi for a business trip to Abuja but I have missed now. I will go back home and sleep.”