Residents of the Trade Fair and Aduramigba communities in Ido Osun, Egbedore Local Government Area of Osun State, on Monday staged a peaceful protest over what they described as substandard road construction carried out under a state-backed project.
The road in question, which was asphalted on Tuesday, reportedly deteriorated less than 48 hours later after a heavy downpour washed away parts of the newly laid surface. The swift damage raised serious concerns about the quality of materials and workmanship deployed by the contractor handling the project.
The road construction is a counterpart-funded initiative involving the World Bank, the Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP), and the Osun State Government.
During the protest, demonstrators—many carrying placards—blocked parts of the road, leading to temporary disruption of vehicular movement in the area. Chanting solidarity songs, they called on the state government to hold contractors accountable and ensure that only quality infrastructure is delivered.
“We are tired of roads that don’t last. We deserve better,” one protester said. “This is taxpayers’ money. The World Bank is involved. We expect world-class standards, not roads that vanish with the rain.”
Independent findings by local observers revealed that the road’s asphalt surface failed shortly after the rainfall, with cracks and loose segments evident across various sections—a clear sign, residents say, of poor execution.
The Osun State Government is yet to issue an official response to the protest as of press time, but insiders within the RAMP office hinted that an inspection team may be deployed to reassess the project.
The protest underscores growing public scrutiny of infrastructure projects across the state and highlights citizens’ increasing demands for transparency and quality in government spending.
