The Osun State Government has moved to allay concerns raised by residents of Ejigbo Local Government Area over the poor condition of roads in the region, which they say has hampered economic development and driven potential investors away.
The commitment to begin work on the Ibadan-Iwo-Ilawo-Ejigbo road came after the Ejigbo Local Government Development Association held a press briefing in Ola, a town within the local government, to draw attention to the community’s worsening infrastructure challenges. At the event held on Thursday, the Association’s Chairman, Mr. Ademola Adeniyi, offered a sobering account of how bad roads have become a major stumbling block to growth and investment in the area.
“Our most pressing issue is the terrible state of the road linking us to other parts of the state,” Adeniyi stated. “Recently, an indigene of Ejigbo was on the verge of bringing a major investment to the community. Unfortunately, the investors withdrew after traveling through the Ibadan-Iwo-Ilawo-Ejigbo road. The poor condition of that road was a deal-breaker. This single incident reflects a broader pattern — bad roads are repelling opportunities and strangling our local economy.”
According to him, the absence of reliable road networks has also discouraged financial institutions from establishing branches in the area. “We have no commercial bank operating in this entire local government. People are forced to travel to neighbouring towns for even the most basic banking transactions,” he lamented.
Despite these challenges, Adeniyi highlighted some milestones the Development Association has achieved under his leadership in the last five years. Notably, the community successfully addressed the issue of poor electricity supply by transferring its power source from Iwo to Osogbo.
“The first challenge we resolved was electricity. The working committee identified it as a top priority. Through strategic collaboration and internal mobilization, we facilitated the relocation of our electricity supply source. The result has been a more stable and reliable power supply to our people,” he explained.
In addition, the group also played a key role in the reopening of the Ejigbo General Hospital. However, the facility remains underutilized due to a lack of staff and adequate medical equipment.
“We appreciate the reopening of the hospital, but we need the government to fulfill its promise of staffing and equipping it. A hospital without personnel and equipment is as good as closed,” Adeniyi said.
In response to the concerns raised by the Ejigbo community, the Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, confirmed that the state government is aware of the issues and has included the Iwo-Ejigbo road in its N159 billion infrastructure development blueprint.
“Let the people of Ejigbo rest assured that their cries have not fallen on deaf ears,” Alimi said in an interview with PUNCH Online. “The Iwo-Ejigbo road has been captured in the Adeleke administration’s comprehensive infrastructure plan. We will commence work very soon. We acknowledge that the road is in terrible condition, and we are committed to fixing it.”
Alimi also promised that other roads in the local government area would be rehabilitated in phases, urging residents to remain patient and supportive. “We can’t do everything at once, but we will get to all of them. The support of the people is vital. The Adeleke administration is people-focused and we will not let them down.”
On the issue of the Ejigbo General Hospital, the Commissioner assured that staffing and equipping the facility is a priority for the government. “They should put their minds at rest. The government is already looking into the staffing challenge. Very soon, that too will be a thing of the past,” he added.
For the people of Ejigbo, the current situation is more than just an infrastructure challenge — it is a matter of justice, inclusion, and equitable development. The residents are hopeful that with the government’s renewed commitment, real work will begin and their community will finally get a fair share of the dividends of democracy.
“We have done our part as a community. Now it’s time for the government to do theirs,” Adeniyi concluded.
As the Adeleke administration rolls out its ambitious infrastructure agenda, all eyes will be on how swiftly and effectively promises turn into progress in Ejigbo and other underserved areas across Osun State.
