Residents, motorists, transporters and commuters in Ekiti State have expressed relief following the commencement of work on the badly deteriorated Ifaki-Oye-Ilupeju Road.
The intervention followed a recent inspection of the troubled route by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, who assessed the condition of the road and assured road users that the Federal Government was taking steps to restore access.
The poor condition of the road had caused significant disruption to transportation and commercial activities, with hundreds of trailers reportedly stranded for days along the Oye-Ilupeju axis.
The prolonged situation created difficulties for motorists and commuters and also affected the movement of goods between the South-West and northern parts of Nigeria. (
Goronyo described the road as an important economic corridor connecting the South-West with northern Nigeria. He noted that the route is vital for the transportation of people, agricultural produce and other goods across the country.
According to the minister, the road project was awarded to a contractor in 2025 and the contractor had already been mobilised to commence work.
He acknowledged concerns over funding and said the Federal Government would review the contractor’s mobilisation to ensure that construction activities progress effectively.
Goronyo assured Nigerians that the government understood the hardship being experienced by road users and was committed to addressing the situation.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had directed the Ministry of Works to ensure that major roads across the country remained accessible.
The minister’s inspection followed a broader Federal Government directive for urgent intervention on the Ifaki-Kabba-Ado Ekiti axis and other critical roads experiencing severe deterioration.
For residents and businesses along the route, the development is expected to provide relief from the transportation difficulties caused by the deteriorated road.
Truck drivers who had been stranded along the route also expressed frustration over the prolonged gridlock. One driver, Akanda James Taiwo, said he had spent about 48 hours stranded, while another driver, Muhammed Hammed, complained about the hardship faced by transport workers.
The poor state of the road had not only affected commuters but also threatened the smooth movement of agricultural products and other commercial goods between different parts of the country.
The Federal Government’s intervention is therefore expected to improve transportation and reduce the economic losses associated with prolonged delays on the route.
Goronyo said the government would continue monitoring the project to ensure that the contractor is adequately supported and work progresses.
Residents are now looking forward to the completion of the intervention and the restoration of normal movement along the Ifaki-Oye-Ilupeju corridor.
The development also highlights the importance of maintaining major federal highways that serve as links between regions and support economic activities.
For now, the commencement of work has provided some relief to road users, although residents and transport operators will be watching closely to ensure that construction continues steadily until the road is fully restored.
