Daud Olatunji
The Onimeko Agbinrekoti of Imeko Igbinrekoti Kingdom, Ogun State, Oba Benjamin Oyeditan-Olanite, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to urgently rehabilitate the approximately 70-kilometre Abeokuta Roundabout–Imeko/Meko section of Federal Highway F.102, warning that its deplorable condition is undermining economic activities and worsening the hardship faced by residents.
The monarch, in an open letter to the President, made available to PLATFORM TIMES on Sunday, said the road, which passes through Olorunda towards Imeko/Meko at the Nigeria–Benin Republic border, had become a major obstacle to transportation, agricultural development, commerce and access to essential services in Imeko-Afon Local Government Area and neighbouring communities.
He urged Tinubu to direct the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies to undertake a comprehensive and lasting rehabilitation of the corridor rather than rely on temporary repairs and palliative interventions.
According to the monarch, the deteriorating highway has increased transportation costs, damaged vehicles, delayed journeys and made it increasingly difficult for farmers, traders, commercial drivers and other residents to move people and goods.
He warned that the situation was depriving frontier communities of economic opportunities and placing additional financial burdens on households and businesses.
Oba Oyeditan-Olanite said, “Our appeal is direct, sincere and heartfelt: Mr President, we humbly appeal to you to come to our aid by ensuring the total and lasting rehabilitation of this strategic federal highway.”
He added that the request was made in the national interest, noting that functional road infrastructure was essential to economic growth, public safety, agricultural development and effective administration of border communities.
The monarch also cited the Federal Highways (Declaration) Order 1977, published in the Federal Government’s Official Gazette, as documentary evidence of the road’s federal status.
He explained that the legal instrument identifies Highway F.102 as a route beginning from Shagamu on the A.1 Road, passing through Owode-Abeokuta and terminating at Meko on the frontier with the Republic of Benin.
He argued that the road should not be treated merely as a local access route because of its connection to an international boundary and its importance to transportation, commerce and regional development.
“The Abeokuta–Imeko/Meko section is therefore more than a road serving individual towns and villages; it forms part of a federal highway network with implications for transportation, agriculture, commerce, border administration and regional economic development,” he said.
The monarch maintained that the road’s strategic position made its rehabilitation a matter of national importance, particularly in strengthening connections between frontier settlements and the Nigerian hinterland.
He said the poor state of the highway had made it more expensive for farmers to transport produce to markets, while traders faced higher distribution costs and motorists incurred additional vehicle maintenance expenses.
He added that residents travelling to Abeokuta and other locations for healthcare, education, government services and business transactions were also affected by the road’s condition.
The traditional ruler expressed concern that the situation could further discourage investment in the area, limiting the establishment and expansion of businesses, processing facilities, storage centres and distribution networks.
He argued that rehabilitating the road would help stimulate commercial activities, create employment opportunities and improve the economic prospects of communities along the corridor.
The monarch also highlighted the implications of the road’s condition for border administration and security, saying a properly maintained highway would improve access for relevant government institutions and security agencies, facilitate the movement of personnel and essential supplies, and support emergency response operations.
He added that improved connectivity would encourage legitimate cross-border commercial activities and enable frontier communities to realise more of their economic potential.
Oba Oyeditan-Olanite, however, acknowledged the palliative intervention facilitated by Ogun West Senator Adeola Solomon Olamilekan, popularly known as Yayi, saying it had improved a portion of the road.
He commended the senator for the intervention, describing it as a welcome relief to motorists and other road users.
According to the monarch, the portion that benefited from the intervention stood out as the only relatively good section along the route from the Abeokuta Roundabout towards Imeko, based on his observation.
He nevertheless stressed that the intervention could not replace the comprehensive rehabilitation required to address the deterioration affecting the wider corridor.
“While palliative works can provide temporary relief, they cannot adequately address the underlying deterioration of the entire corridor. The scale of the problem requires a comprehensive and durable engineering solution,” he said.
The monarch urged the Federal Government to build on the senator’s intervention by providing a permanent solution capable of serving road users for years.
He outlined several measures he wanted the President to consider, including an urgent engineering assessment of the approximately 70-kilometre stretch, comprehensive rehabilitation, adequate funding, quality control, effective project supervision and a sustainable maintenance framework.
He also called for appropriate drainage systems, pavement reconstruction where necessary and the use of quality construction materials to ensure the durability of the road.
The monarch further urged the government to keep affected communities informed about the proposed rehabilitation, implementation arrangements and expected project schedule.
He said the intervention would demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to infrastructure development and improved living standards under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are not asking for a privilege beyond the legitimate needs of our people. We are asking for urgent attention to a federal highway whose deteriorating condition has become a serious impediment to socioeconomic development and whose strategic importance deserves a lasting solution,” he said.
The monarch expressed hope that the President would direct the relevant federal authorities to act on the appeal, stressing that the rehabilitation would bring relief to residents, strengthen economic activities and improve the connection between Ogun State’s frontier communities and the rest of Nigeria.
He said a lasting solution to the road’s deterioration would also demonstrate that communities located far from major urban centres remained important to the Federal Government’s development priorities.
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