For almost over a year, the residents of Omikunle community in Ibadan South East Constitiency of Oyo-State had their community cut off from other neighbouring communities like Yejide, Osungbade and Odo-Oba. This is as a result of a community bridge which had served the community for over a decade collapsing.
The plight of residents usually reach its peak during the raining season because of the increase in water level, thereby preventing passers by and school children who usually manage to navigate the stream with the help of heavy stone and tyres being thrown to serve as platforms to enable them cross over.
Initial efforts to have it fixed proved abortive after numerous visits and letters to the local council authority were not forthcoming until luck will smile on their faces when someone directed that a letter be writing to the ministry of works around January 2022.
My mother who happens to be the chairperson after receiving the acknowledgement letter from the ministry, backed it up with another letter to the office of the Governor. This time around, she stated how some of the schools within the neighborhood now suffers because of the neglect.
Reconstruction of the pedestrian bridge started and was completed around the last quarter of 2022 which now serves the residents. Speaking to my mother about the chances of the Governor’s reelection few days ago brought attention to this pedestrian bridge I helped her in documenting.
While it is very important to appreciate the Governor for this, it is also key that he pushes to hastily speed up works on other construction of bridges like the ones along Elekuro road, Olounsogo-Akanran road and others. As the new school term resumes this morning, one can only imagine the plight of some communities like this that has been cut off and having to merry go round to reach their destination.
Animasaun Idris Ajibola
Public Affairs Analyst and Environmental Enthusiast
Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
