The Osun Masterminds, a civil society organisation, has called on the Osun State Government and the Federal Government to urgently address the deteriorating condition of roads across the state, warning that poor infrastructure is endangering lives, disrupting businesses and undermining economic activities.
The organisation specifically urged the Osun State Government to declare a state of emergency on township roads in Osogbo, while calling on the Federal Ministry of Works to begin comprehensive rehabilitation of major federal highways linking the state with other parts of the country.
The call was made on Saturday during the organisation’s October State of the State Address in Osogbo, where it identified poor road networks, insecurity and growing political tension ahead of the 2027 general elections as major concerns requiring urgent government attention.
Speaking at the briefing, the Executive Director, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, said the condition of several roads in Osogbo had become increasingly troubling, with deteriorating asphalt, poor drainage systems and inadequate maintenance affecting daily movement across the state capital.
He identified the Dele-Yes-Sir/Oke-Fia axis, Olaiya/Ogo-Oluwa corridor and the MDS/Oja-Oba/Ilesa Garage network among the areas experiencing serious road deterioration.
The organisation also expressed concern over the condition of major federal highways, particularly the Ekiti-Kogi-Lokoja-Abuja highway and the Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Egbe corridors, describing them as important routes for interstate transportation, agricultural distribution and commercial activities.
According to Oyedokun-Alli, the poor condition of these roads has increased the risks faced by motorists and other road users, while making the movement of goods and services more difficult.
He criticised the authorities for what he described as the neglect of critical road infrastructure despite the taxes and other levies paid by Nigerians.
“Infrastructural connectivity is the backbone of national integration, agricultural trade, and economic survival. Yet, federal highways have been converted into death traps and extortion centres due to total abandonment. It is unacceptable that while citizens pay exorbitant taxes, fuel levies, and transport fares, the Federal Government watches with folded arms as federal highways turn into death traps,” he said.
The organisation called on the Federal Ministry of Works and other relevant agencies to move beyond temporary repairs and adopt lasting engineering solutions capable of addressing the persistent deterioration of the roads.
It also urged the Osun State Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on roads within Osogbo, stressing that temporary interventions would not provide a sustainable solution to the problem.
“We call on the Osun State Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on Osogbo township roads. Palliative measures must move beyond cosmetic stone-filling to durable, comprehensive engineering solutions that can withstand the elements and serve our people sustainably,” Oyedokun-Alli said.
Beyond infrastructure, the organisation raised concerns over the security situation and the growing tension in the country’s political environment as preparations for the 2027 general elections gather momentum.
Oyedokun-Alli warned political parties against the use of armed groups or enforcement squads to intimidate opponents, insisting that the peace and stability of Osun must not be sacrificed for political ambitions.
“The peace and stability of Osun State must not be sacrificed on the altar of desperate political ambitions. Elections are a peaceful exercise of civic choice, not a military conquest or a trial by combat. We call on all political parties to immediately disband every armed group or political enforcement squad operating under any guise,” he said.
The organisation also condemned the reported attack on the African Action Congress presidential candidate, Omoyele Sowore, in Ado-Ekiti on October 30, describing it as a threat to democratic participation.
It called on the Inspector-General of Police, the Department of State Services and other relevant agencies to investigate the incident, identify those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.
Oyedokun-Alli argued that attacks on political candidates undermine the rights of Nigerians to participate in the political process, express their views and support candidates of their choice.
Also speaking, a member of the organisation, Ayo Ologun, urged Sowore to conduct himself with the responsibility expected of a presidential candidate, despite the challenges confronting him.
Ologun reportedly referenced a similar encounter involving Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, arguing that security arrangements for presidential aspirants should reflect the importance of their positions and help prevent political disagreements from degenerating into physical confrontations.
The organisation appealed to traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth groups, civil society organisations, political actors and security agencies to promote peace, tolerance and national unity ahead of the 2027 elections.
It also urged government officials at all levels to prioritise citizens’ welfare, defend democratic institutions and address the infrastructure and security challenges affecting communities across the country.