Your Excellency,
I write this letter once again with a heavy heart, not out of malice, but out of deep concern for the lives, welfare and dignity of the people of Ondo South Senatorial District and every Nigerian who is compelled to travel through the Ore/Okitipupa Road.
This is not my first appeal. Within the last six months alone, I have written no fewer than three open letters, passionately drawing the attention of your administration to the frightening condition of this strategic federal highway. Sadly, despite repeated appeals from concerned citizens, transport unions, community leaders and civil society groups, the situation has continued to deteriorate.
Your Excellency, the Ore/Okitipupa Road has become a monument to governmental neglect, subjecting commuters to unnecessary hardship, economic losses and avoidable risks. It is unacceptable that a highway of such strategic economic importance has been abandoned to deteriorate into what many road users now describe as a death trap.
Every journey on the Ore/Okitipupa Road is a painful reminder that infrastructure decay remains one of the greatest challenges confronting our nation. The deplorable state of the road is no longer a mere inconvenience, it has become a serious threat to lives, livelihoods and the economic prosperity of Ondo South.
A road that should facilitate commerce, tourism, investment and connectivity has instead become a symbol of failed maintenance and poor governance. No responsible government should remain indifferent while citizens are forced to navigate a highway riddled with deep craters, prolonged traffic congestion and recurring accidents.
The continued deterioration of the Ore–Okitipupa Road gives many residents the impression that the welfare, safety and dignity of those who depend on it daily have not received the urgent attention they deserve. The suffering endured by motorists, commercial transport operators, traders, farmers, students, patients and residents along the Ore–Okitipupa corridor demands immediate intervention rather than another round of assurances.
It is deeply regrettable that one of the most important transportation corridors in South-West Nigeria has been allowed to descend into such a shameful state of disrepair. Every week, reports emerge of vehicles breaking down, trailers overturning, avoidable accidents occurring and innocent lives being lost. Countless vehicle owners have spent fortunes repairing damaged suspensions, tyres and other components destroyed by the terrible condition of the road.
Many expectant mothers, elderly citizens, children and critically ill patients are subjected to untold physical stress while travelling on this route. The emotional and economic burden on families continues to increase, while businesses suffer significant losses because of delays and the high cost of transportation.
Your Excellency, the people of Ondo South are asking a painful question: Have we become so insignificant that the road serving our communities no longer deserves urgent government attention?
There is a popular saying that charity begins at home. It is an aberration to leave one’s father’s house in ruins while beautifying another man’s house. Across different parts of Ondo State, road construction and rehabilitation projects are progressing. While every part of the state deserves development, the continued neglect of the Ore/Okitipupa Road has left many people in Ondo South feeling disappointed, forgotten and unfairly treated.
This road is not an ordinary road. It serves as a critical gateway to Ondo South and provides access to communities that contribute immensely to the economy of the state. It is therefore difficult for many citizens to understand why such an economically vital corridor continues to suffer prolonged neglect despite repeated public appeals.
History reminds us of leaders who placed the welfare of their people above every other consideration. The late Dr. Olusegun Agagu remains fondly remembered by many because he appreciated the strategic importance of infrastructure and understood that development must reach every part of the state. His legacy continues to inspire many who believe that leadership is measured not merely by promises but by visible improvements in the lives of the people.
Your Excellency, history will judge every administration by the problems it confronted and the courage it demonstrated in solving them. History will not be kind to any government that ignores the cries of its people while the Ore–Okitipupa Road continues to claim lives, destroy vehicles and frustrate economic progress.
This is not the time for another promise. It is the time for decisive action.
The cries of commuters are growing louder. Commercial drivers are exhausted. Farmers struggle to move their produce to markets. Businesses are counting losses. Investors are discouraged. Families continue to mourn loved ones lost in avoidable road accidents.
Your Excellency, the people are not asking for luxury. They are asking for a safe, motorable road that protects lives, supports economic activities and restores confidence in government.
I therefore appeal to you, in the interest of justice, equity and responsible leadership, to make the rehabilitation of the Ore/Okitipupa Road an immediate priority. Let your administration be remembered as the one that responded when the people cried, not the one that looked away.
The people of Ondo South deserve better.
Yours faithfully,
Odofin Oluwafemi O (C-Banking)