Ibadan – Gov. Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has decried the deplorable condition of the Federal Highways in the state and called for urgent Federal Government intervention.

The governor made the call when he received the South-West Zonal Director of the Highways, Mr Ejike Mgbemene, and the Commissioners of Works in the South-West on Tuesday in Ibadan.

The governor was particularly worried about the pitiable situation of the federal roads in the South-West region of the country.

Besides, Ajimobi also appealed to the Federal Government to reimburse the state government with funds it had spent on the rehabilitation of the federal roads in the state.

He called for the setting up of a committee that would work out modalities for the maintenance of federal roads in Oyo State.

“All our roads are in very deplorable conditions. In fact, it will not be out of place to call them death traps. For many of our motorists, it takes an average of two to three hours to travel from Ibadan to Lagos on the expressway, a journey which normally should take about one hour.

“This has come about, because of the lack of maintenance and inadequate rehabilitation. Many of us are very anxious to have good, motorable roads for the safety and security of our people and property and we have a lot of money outstanding.

“We have written a letter and we are waiting anxiously to collect the money.”

Ajimobi, however, lauded the decentralisation of the Highways Department of the Federal Ministry of Works and the plan to redesign the main entrance to Ibadan city from Lagos, to enhance the aesthetics of the state capital.

“I believe that during your tenure and mine, we will work together to remove all the obstacles, and in the next two weeks, we will find what to do about the people at the Toll Gate, Ibadan. Between now and the end of the month, we want to clear that place.”

Earlier, Mgbemene said that his department was making efforts to ensure that all the roads in the South-West were motorable.

He complained that the abuse of the right of way contributed to the recent flood disaster in the state.

The Director suggested that Federal Controllers should make contact with state commissioners for works, environment and lands with a view to jointly addressing the situation.
The commissioners of works in the six states of the South West accompanied the director on the courtesy visit to the governor. (NAN)