By Juliet Buna
Heavy rainfall on Sunday led to the flooding of the Olodo garage area along Iwo Road in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital Southwest Nigeria, impeding movement for long hours along the ever-busy road.
Besides stopping vehicular and human traffic for some hours, the flood also damaged business premises, residential buildings located, and electric poles along the area.
Two vehicles were submerged by the flood, and rescue operations were carried out by some of the commuters who evacuated the occupants of the vehicles.
Some of the motorists who spoke with our reporter demanded quick action from the State Government on the ongoing reconstruction of the Olodo bridge.
A road user who only identified as Ademola said “We are at Olodo garage where the flood has taken place across the road, We have been here for some hours. We are begging the state government to do something about it, it is getting worse.
“Anytime rain falls, it gets worse, so we are begging the government to fast track the construction of the road as the road construction is very slow.
“They should be fast about it so that we will not be stranded on the bridge anytime the rain falls.
“The government should find a solution to it; the bridge should be extended, and it should be constructed a little bit higher than what they are doing presently.
“Water has damaged the company fence, and an electricity pole was destroyed too. It is only the government that can help.”
It was further gathered that many commuters passing through the road had to abandon their vehicles to avoid being swept away and wait for some hours for the water to recede before they proceeded on their journey.
A commuter simply identified as Tobi Adeleye decried the impact of the flood on business activities “This is my first time here and I have spent two hours stranded because of the flood,” can’t even get to my destination now, It’s quite unfortunate, he said.
Last year the Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde earmarked the sum of N12.5 billion Naira for the reconstruction, rehabilitation, and dualization of 35.6km Iwo Road Interchange-Olodo-Lalupon-Odo Oba Road.
The first phase of the project is the 7.7km from Iwo Road interchange to Olodo Bridge subdivided into three parts.
The contract covers the Oyo State end of the Oyo-Osun boundary linking Ibadan in Oyo State to Iwo, Osun State.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the project is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Although work has commenced on the reconstruction of the bridge Sunday’s flood (today) is another reminder that contractors handling the project must expedite action to complete the road in record time.
