WHEN REPRESENTATION DOES NOT REACH THE ROAD
The Ayetoro–Rounder–Olorunda–Imeko Corridor: What does political representation mean when people cannot move safely within their own communities?
By Otunba (Dr.) Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo
Travelling through the Ayetoro–Rounder–Olorunda–Imeko corridor in Ogun State becomes, very quickly, about more than movement from one place to another. It lays bare the distance between political representation and the basic infrastructure citizens require.
Large stretches of this corridor are still in bad shape, even though the area is represented at every level of government: a senator for Ogun West, federal and state lawmakers for the affected constituencies, and the Ogun State Government led by Governor Dapo Abiodun. Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola facilitated rehabilitation work on parts of the Rounder–Olorunda section. Budget tracking records indicate that ₦325.6 million was paid in September 2025 to a contractor for the rehabilitation and resurfacing of the Rounder Alamala–Olorunda Imeko Road, and independent monitors reported by April 2026 that the work had been completed and was already in use. Where such intervention has improved access, it should be acknowledged.
Even so, the improvement has been partial and inconsistent. Some of the repaired portions are already showing early deterioration. Closer to Olorunda, conditions worsen sharply; heavy-duty trucks get stuck in damaged sections, creating daily difficulties for farmers, traders, transporters, and residents who rely on the road.
This is not a forgotten or insignificant route. It connects farming communities in Yewa North and Imeko-Afon, enables the movement of agricultural produce, and also forms part of a wider international route toward the Benin Republic border. Its poor state produces clear costs: increased transport fares, damage to vehicles, delays in medical emergencies, lower competitiveness for farmers and traders, and deepening isolation for communities that contribute to the economies of Ogun State and Nigeria.
The record of promises predates the current administration’s recent steps. In 2021, Governor Abiodun publicly pledged to reconstruct the Abeokuta–Olorunda–Imeko road. Then, on 28 January 2026, after personally inspecting the route during the commissioning of the Afon Township Road, originally constructed in 1959 under Obafemi Awolowo, he instructed the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure to prepare cost estimates, present the project at the next Executive Council meeting, advertise for qualified contractors, and commence construction without delay. He described the road as deplorable. Yet months later, publicly available evidence of major reconstruction progress across the entire corridor remains limited.
Representation is more than attending legislative sessions, issuing congratulatory statements, or organising occasional empowerment programmes. It demands consistent oversight: motions, budget advocacy, engagement with road agencies, confirmed follow-up, and transparent communication with constituents. Citizens have a right to know whether surveys and designs are complete, whether contracts have been awarded, whether funds have been released, whether contractors have been mobilised, and what the realistic timeline looks like. Short-term repairs that fail within a short period cannot be counted as enduring infrastructure success. Money spent on public roads should produce durable outcomes measured by service life, drainage performance, and value for money, not merely by commissioning ceremonies.
What is needed is a coordinated inspection involving state and federal road agencies, engineers, and community representatives, followed by a public programme setting out the responsible authorities, projected costs, funding sources, and milestones. Hazardous portions of the road need emergency attention in the interim while permanent reconstruction moves forward. Where previous interventions have broken down too soon, the reasons—whether poor workmanship, drainage design problems, axle loads, or foundation defects—must be identified and fixed.
The people of Yewa North and Imeko-Afon do not need another cycle of promises. They need a road they can actually use and accountability they can verify. Representation should be judged not only by what happens in legislative chambers or on campaign materials, but by the condition of the roads people use every day. Until that benchmark is met, one question will remain unavoidable: what is the real practical value of multiple tiers of elected representation when the most basic needs of these communities are still unmet?
Otunba (Dr.) Abdulfalil Abayomi Odunowo
National Chairman, AATSG
Writes on governance, public accountability, infrastructure development and national progress.
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