Key Takeaways
- Afe Babalola has called on President Tinubu to inspect the Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole road.
- The road is vital for several key institutions, including Afe Babalola University.
- Babalola highlights past neglect and the need for community support in road rehabilitation efforts.
In a heartfelt open letter, Aare Afe Babalola, the founder and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, has implored President Bola Tinubu to undertake a personal inspection of the dilapidated Ado-Ijan-Ilumoba-Ikole federal road in Ekiti State. Babalola describes this crucial thoroughfare as largely impassable, significantly impeding accessibility for students and residents alike.
The letter, aptly titled, "An Appeal to the Federal Government to Revisit the Road Leading to Afe Babalola University and an Open Letter of Appreciation to Senator Babafemi Ojudu," articulates the urgent need for governmental attention to this road that serves multiple essential institutions in the region. Babalola's concern is heightened by years of neglect, particularly as the road is integral to the operation of the university, a multi-system hospital, a federal polytechnic, a National Open University campus, and an agro-allied international cargo airport.
Beyond his personal advocacy, Babalola revealed that Afe Babalola University has invested billions of naira from 2010 to 2019 in repairing portions of the road and the aging Ureje Bridge as part of its corporate social responsibility. Given its significance, his institution intervened to maintain access for students, faculty, and local communities.
Babalola recounted a disappointing episode when a local contractor won a rehabilitation contract in 2019, only to abandon the project, leaving the road in even worse condition. This history of failed attempts at rehabilitating the vital infrastructure underscores the persistence of challenges faced by the state’s road network.
He emphasized the role of Senator Babafemi Ojudu in consistently raising awareness about the dire condition of federal roads in Ekiti. Babalola credits Ojudu’s advocacy as a vital addition to the longstanding call for better infrastructure in the region, highlighting the inadequacies that hamper the economic development of Ekiti.
The legal luminary further urged the community, especially Ekiti indigenes, including professors and opinion leaders, to join the crusade for improved road infrastructure. He believes that collective action is essential for making Ekiti roads more navigable and that the public should rally around Ojudu’s efforts in this regard.
“I humbly appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to personally visit the road, as it seems he has not been given the true picture of its deplorable state,” Babalola stated. He concluded by calling on Ekiti residents to unite in advocating for better road conditions, asserting that improving the state's transport infrastructure is crucial for its growth and connectivity with other regions of Nigeria.
Why This Matters
This appeal highlights the critical need for effective infrastructure in Nigeria, where inadequate transportation networks continue to pose significant challenges for education and economic development. Enhanced road quality can lead to improved access to institutions and foster greater regional growth.