Fayose raises alarm: Ekiti roads now death traps

DDM News

(DDM) – Former Ekiti State Governor and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Otunba Emmanuel Fayose, has formally appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on federal roads in Ekiti State due to their appalling and dangerous condition.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Afao Ekiti-born politician made the plea through a letter released to the press on Friday, highlighting the deteriorating state of key roads across the state.

Fayose, a leading governorship hopeful in the state’s PDP chapter, wrote the letter on behalf of millions of road users, commuters, and farmers, whom he described as “voiceless victims” of decades of federal neglect.

In the document, Fayose also copied the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, Ekiti State Governor Biodun Oyebanji, and all National Assembly members from Ekiti, calling for swift and decisive intervention.

He listed specific federal roads in critical need of repair, including the Ado–Ijan–Ikare Road, Ado–Ikere–Akure Road, Aramoko–Ilupeju–Ita Ure Road, and the Efon–Iwaraja Road.

According to Fayose, the affected routes are riddled with deep potholes, collapsed culverts, dangerous gullies, and in many places, have become entirely impassable.

He emphasized that the state’s road infrastructure has not only collapsed but now poses a major security threat to residents and travellers.

“These roads are now death traps,” he wrote.

“They are not just bad; they are enabling insecurity.”

Fayose described how kidnappers, armed robbers, and other criminals now operate freely along these routes, taking advantage of the slow pace of vehicles, damaged roads, and lack of security patrols due to poor accessibility.

He stressed that the situation has turned from a development concern to a full-blown emergency.

“Innocent lives are being lost,” he wrote.

“Businesses are suffering. Ekiti is bleeding.”

The former governor warned that without immediate federal intervention, the state could face further economic decline, deteriorating security, and loss of public confidence in the government.

He noted that road users now live in constant fear of being ambushed by criminals, while farmers struggle to transport their goods due to collapsed routes.

Fayose’s call comes at a time when Nigeria is battling rising insecurity and infrastructural decay across several states, with many communities lamenting years of underinvestment in critical infrastructure.

Observers say his letter could add fresh pressure on the federal government, especially on the Ministry of Works, to prioritise neglected routes in less politically dominant states.

Ekiti State, located in the southwest region of Nigeria, is largely agrarian and depends heavily on road networks to connect its rural economy to larger commercial centres in Akure, Ibadan, and Lagos.

Analysts say the Ado–Ikere–Akure Road, for instance, serves as a key lifeline for movement between Ekiti and Ondo States, and its collapse is likely to affect regional trade.

This is not the first time Fayose has spoken out on national issues since leaving office in 2018.

He has remained an outspoken critic of poor governance and often uses his platform to advocate for the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, especially his fellow Ekiti indigenes.

Meanwhile, there has been no official response from the Presidency or the Federal Ministry of Works regarding the request at the time of this report.

However, Fayose’s letter has sparked fresh conversations online among Ekiti residents, with many calling on lawmakers from the state to push the matter further through legislative channels.

Some citizens say the conditions described in Fayose’s letter reflect their daily struggle, and they hope this latest advocacy will yield meaningful results.

With the rainy season in full swing and worsening road conditions across the state, all eyes are now on Abuja to see whether the federal authorities will treat Fayose’s call with the urgency it demands.

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