By Ọmọsọla Olumide
Members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ota Branch, on Saturday staged a peaceful protest to express their frustration over the deplorable state of roads in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.
The protest, which began in the early hours of the morning, saw lawyers marching through major streets of Ota to draw attention to the worsening condition of the roads and to demand urgent government intervention.
Addressing journalists during the march, the Chairperson of the branch, Chief (Mrs.) Kelubia A. Ajose, described the situation as “intolerable and dangerous,” lamenting that residents and motorists have continued to suffer due to years of government neglect.
According to her, Ota is one of the busiest industrial and commercial hubs in the state, given its proximity to Lagos, its route to Abeokuta, and its position as a gateway to the Idiroko border. Despite this, she said, the area’s road infrastructure has deteriorated into a state of near collapse.
“The roads are in total disrepair—endangering lives, damaging vehicles, and crippling business activities daily. It has become a nightmare for everyone,” she said.
Chief Ajose appealed to the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and his deputy, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, to intervene without delay. She specifically mentioned the Ota–Idiroko Road, Oju ore Area, Atan–Agbara Road, and Sango–Ota Road (from the bridge to the roundabout) as priority areas requiring immediate attention, alongside several other inner roads across the local government area.
She further stated that the poor condition of these roads has caused untold hardship, leading to lost man-hours, economic stagnation, and a spike in criminal activities.
Chief Ajose also called on the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Chairman, Alhaji Wasiu Lawal (FCA), to take decisive action by escalating the matter to the state government and initiating rehabilitation of roads within his jurisdiction.
“People are tired of excuses about whether a road belongs to the local, state, or federal government. The essence of governance is to ensure the welfare and security of the people,” she stressed.
She emphasized that the protest was entirely peaceful and devoid of any political motive, describing it as a “clarion call” for urgent government action to prevent further hardship and possible disaster.
The protest commenced at the Ota Magistrate Court, proceeded through Gangan Roundabout, and ended at Sango Underbridge, with security support from officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC). The demonstration was conducted in a calm atmosphere and recorded no incidents.
Many residents who joined the protest expressed gratitude to the NBA for taking up the cause, noting that the poor condition of the roads has crippled businesses and endangered lives for far too long. The association, however, vowed to sustain the campaign until the government takes concrete steps to rehabilitate the affected roads.
“This is not a one-off action,” Chief Ajose concluded. “We will continue to use every lawful means to ensure the voices of Ado-Odo Ota residents are heard until these roads are fixed.”
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