Community Businesses Paralyzed, Residents Call for Urgent Government Intervention

A collapsed bridge linking Ere Ijesa and Ilahun Ijesa communities in Osun State has left local businesses and residents stranded for almost a year, severely disrupting commerce and transportation.

The bridge gave way over the weekend of October 19-20, 2024, while a heavy-duty trailer was crossing. Fortunately, no lives were lost. However, the collapse immediately severed a crucial transport link, affecting residents and traders in Ere Ijesa, Ilahun Ijesa, Ijebu Ijesa, and neighboring communities like Ikirun, which rely on the route for travel and trade.

Mr. Seyi Olarenwaju, a resident of Ere Ijesa who recently visited the site, said reconstruction has yet to begin, leaving many traders unable to operate and forcing some to abandon their businesses entirely.

“The bridge connecting Ere Ijesa (Oriade LGA) and Ilahun Ijesa (Obokun LGA) collapsed while carrying a heavy-duty trailer. Its failure has severely disrupted transportation and socio-economic activities in the area,” Seyi stated.

It could be recalled that in 2024, Mr. Sunday Oni, also a citizen of Ere Ijesa, alerted the local and state governments about the bridge collapse within 24 hours of the incident. However, it is disheartening that almost a year later, the bridge has still not been repaired, leaving residents frustrated and local commerce stalled.

Local residents and community leaders had warned about the bridge’s deteriorating condition as early as July 2023, citing structural weaknesses, poor maintenance, and heavy vehicle traffic. Their concerns went unheeded until the collapse, prompting immediate attention from state authorities.

On October 21, 2024, Honourable Adewumi Adeyemi Irekandu, representing Obokun State Constituency in the Osun State House of Assembly, raised the matter during a plenary session as an urgent public issue. The House approved government intervention and recommended a statewide assessment of bridges, including restrictions on heavy vehicles on vulnerable structures like the Olaiya Overhead Bridge.

The Osun State Ministry of Works conducted a site inspection shortly after and outlined repair plans. Governor Ademola Adeleke directed swift action, including temporary restrictions on heavy-duty vehicles in affected areas. Irekandu visited the site personally on October 23, 2024, and confirmed preparations for repairs were underway with a full restoration schedule in place.

The bridge’s reconstruction is included in the Osun State 2025 Infrastructure Plan (Phase 2), which allocates N159 billion for ongoing road projects, including the Ijebu Ijesa – Ere – Ilahun – Ibokun road. The failed bridge is a priority within this broader rehabilitation plan.

Despite these assurances, as of September 15, 2025, the bridge remains unrepaired. Residents are expressing growing frustration over the prolonged delay, urging the state government to take immediate action.

“It is almost a year since the collapse, and nothing has been done. We urgently require immediate repairs to restore this critical transport link,” Seyi Olarenwaju appealed.

Following the collapse, a temporary wooden bridge was erected by local Hausa farmers residing in the area. Commuters reportedly pay N500 to cross, highlighting the desperate need for official government intervention.

The bridge serves as a vital connection from Ijebu Ijesa, Ere Ijesa, and Ilahun Ijesa to Osogbo, the state capital, and its continued inaccessibility has hindered movement for travelers and traders alike.

Community leaders and well-meaning sons and daughters of Ere Ijesa are now calling on the government to expedite repairs, stressing that the lack of a functional bridge continues to cripple local commerce and socio-economic activities.