In the quiet town of Ejigbo, Osun State, frustration has been growing over crumbling roads and the opportunities lost with them. But there’s now a glimmer of hope — the state government has promised to step in.
For years, residents and community leaders have watched potential investors turn away, deterred by the harsh reality of the Ibadan-Iwo-Ilawo-Ejigbo road — a critical artery linking the region to the outside world, now riddled with potholes and decay.
This week, the Ejigbo Local Government Development Association raised their voices louder than ever. At a media briefing held in Ola, a nearby town, the group’s chairman, Mr. Ademola Adeniyi, recounted a particularly bitter experience. “An investor came. He was serious. But once he saw the state of the road, that was it — he walked away,” Adeniyi shared.
He explained that the community’s challenges go beyond missed business deals. The entire local government still lacks a commercial bank — a void he believes stems from the area’s poor connectivity. “Our people have to travel to other towns just to handle basic banking,” he said.
Despite the setbacks, the association has not stood idle. Under its current leadership, the group has already made headway — successfully improving electricity supply by rerouting the area’s power source from Iwo to Osogbo, bringing more stability to local homes and businesses.
They’ve also worked with state authorities to reopen the Ejigbo General Hospital, though they are now urging the government to follow through by staffing and equipping the facility.
In response to the growing calls, Osun’s Commissioner for Information, Mr. Kolapo Alimi, confirmed that help is indeed on the way. In a statement, he revealed that the troubled Ejigbo-Iwo road is included in the state’s N159 billion infrastructure overhaul. While he acknowledged that not all roads can be fixed at once, he reassured the community that their concerns are on the government’s radar.
Alimi also addressed the hospital issue, stating that recruitment plans are already in motion. “They should be patient. These challenges are being handled one by one,” he said.
For now, residents remain cautiously optimistic. The roads may still be rough, but the promise of change — and the potential return of opportunity — has brought a sense of renewed determination to Ejigbo.
