Work has resumed on the badly damaged Ifaki-Oye-Ilupeju road in Ekiti State, bringing relief to residents, motorists, transporters and commuters who have endured weeks of hardship on the route.
The development followed an inspection of the road by the Minister of State for Works, Bello Muhammad Goronyo, who visited the troubled section to assess the situation and ongoing efforts to restore movement.
The road’s poor condition had recently caused severe traffic congestion, with hundreds of loaded trailers reportedly stranded for days around the Oye-Ilupeju axis.
The development disrupted the movement of people and goods while raising concerns about its impact on trade between the South-West and northern parts of Nigeria.
Goronyo described the route as a major economic corridor, noting that it plays an important role in transporting people, agricultural produce and other goods across the country.
The minister said the project was awarded in 2025 and that the contractor had already been mobilised. He, however, acknowledged that funding challenges may have slowed the pace of work.
According to him, the Federal Government would review the contractor’s mobilisation to ensure construction progresses without further delay.
Goronyo also assured road users that the government was committed to preventing major roads from becoming completely impassable.
The worsening condition of the road had earlier left several truck drivers stranded for prolonged periods.
A driver, Akanda James Taiwo, said he had spent about 48 hours on the road, lamenting the hardship and financial losses caused by the gridlock.
Another truck driver, Muhammed Hammed, expressed frustration over the situation, alleging that transport workers are often remembered by government officials mainly when their support is needed during elections.
