Residents and road users in Ekiti State have expressed relief as work begins on the badly deteriorated Ifaki-Oye-Ilupeju Road following renewed intervention by the Federal Government.
The development followed an inspection of the troubled route by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, who pledged that the government would restore access and ease the difficulties faced by motorists and commuters.
The road’s worsening condition had disrupted transportation and commercial activities, with hundreds of fully loaded trailers reportedly stranded for days along the Oye-Ilupeju axis.
The prolonged gridlock also raised concerns about the movement of agricultural produce and other goods between the South-West and northern parts of Nigeria.
Speaking to journalists, Goronyo described the route as a critical economic corridor connecting the two regions.
He disclosed that the project was awarded to a contractor in 2025 and that the contractor had already been mobilised to begin work. However, he acknowledged that funding challenges may have slowed construction.
The minister said the Federal Government would review the contractor’s mobilisation to ensure work progresses effectively.
Goronyo said President Bola Tinubu had directed the Ministry of Works to ensure that no major road in the country remains cut off, adding that Works Minister David Umahi had instructed him to inspect the situation.
The intervention comes after truck drivers complained about being trapped on the route. One driver, Akanda James Taiwo, said he had been stranded for about 48 hours, while another, Muhammed Hammed, expressed frustration over the prolonged hardship faced by transport workers.
The Federal Government’s renewed intervention is expected to improve movement along the corridor and reduce disruptions to the transportation of people and goods.
