Nigeria is a Nation with 36 states and 1 Federal Capital Territory. Ekiti State is one of the 36 states that comprise over 100 towns and villages, which form 16 Local Government Areas. In Nigeria, Ekiti State is one of the smallest states, covering an area of 6,353 km², bigger than Lagos (3,577km²), Anambra (4,844km²), Imo (5,530km²), Ebonyi (5,670km²), and Abia (6,320km²). Source: Wikipedia
The deplorable road condition in Ekiti State is similar to that of other States in Nigeria. The major problem Nigeria is facing is the Unitary system, where decisions meant to be made at the local level are being influenced by the Federal Government. Roads in Nigeria are divided into three types: Trunk A (Federal Government roads), Trunk B (State Government roads), and Trunk C (Local Government roads). Trunk C roads are mostly untarred due to a lack of funds in the Local Council.
I have always advocated for a Nigeria where our system needs to be redesigned, a Nigeria where every community takes ownership, a Nigeria where everyone respects their differences irrespective of their tribe, culture, language, religion, local practices, etc. A Nigeria where we have;
-People’s Constitution (New)
-Devolution of Power
-True Federalism
-Policing from the community to the National level
-Restructuring, etc.
Unfortunately, we have been practicing the Unitary system since 1966, which has been a major contributor to the deplorable state of our roads, increased insecurity, high rate of corruption, and has hindered development, as well as depriving us of achieving the Nigeria we want.
By looking at the Unitary system, the state of roads in Nigeria makes it difficult for Minister of Works who resides in Abuja to construct and rehabilitates all the Trunk A roads due to bureaucracy, corruption, workloads, terrain of localities, etc. while road transportation is important for Nation growth because it improve Gross Domestic Product and is the only means of transportation that connects door to door.
To date, the Nigerian system is not working, it is a unitary system, camouflaged as a federation, Federal Government should handover all the resources, State Government should no longer rely on Federal Government for monthly allocation or jeopardize the Local Council, the central Government should monitor and checkmate other tiers of Government and community people should have freedom to information to ask any institution/leader question constructively.
Let us go back to the state of Ekiti road and the negligence of the Federal Government on Ekiti roads
-Ekiti is the only State in the South-Western region where no one can drive in or out via 2 lanes
-The Ado to Iyin 2-lane, which was constructed by Governor Fayemi using Ekiti State resources, was approved by President Ibrahim Babangida. The 2-lane road was intended to run from Ado Ekiti to Ilesha in Osun State; however, the road remained untouched until Fayemi constructed a section of the long-distance route.
-Using my experience in Ado Ekiti as a reference, the last time the Federal Government constructed a road in Ekiti State was under General Abdusalam Abubakar when Navy Captain Atanda Yusuf was Ekiti State Administrator. The road, located between Fajuyi Park and the Adebayo axis, was constructed by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC).
Since 1999, the Federal Government hasn’t constructed any road in Ekiti State, but has rehabilitated Trunk A roads through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA)
-The Federal Government under President Obasanjo didn’t construct any road in Ekiti
-The Federal Government under President Yar’Adua didn’t construct any road in Ekiti
-The Federal Government under President Jonathan didn’t construct any road in Ekiti
-The Federal Government under President Buhari didn’t construct any road in Ekiti
-As of today, the Federal Government under President Tinubu has approved and started the construction of some Trunk A roads in Ekiti State, just like President Buhari, but the roads are yet to be completed.
From 1999, Ekiti State Governors Adebayo, Fayose, Segun Oni, Fayemi, and Oyebanji have used Ekiti state resources to construct Federal roads. Unfortunately, the Federal Government has announced “No more refunds for repairing Federal roads” since 2022
Today, all the entry and exit roads of Ekiti have collapsed. Ekiti State deserves good roads while driving in and out should be via 2-lanes; the State should be supported by the Federal Government because road construction in Ekiti is expensive due to the state’s topography.
Constructing a long 2-lane straight road with no bends in Ekiti will require the construction of multiple bridges and the blasting of multiple rocks. According to the Geological map of Nigeria, Ekiti is situated within the Southwestern Nigeria Basement Complex; rocks in Ekiti are either Igneous or Metamorphic rocks. Of all the 3 parent rocks on Earth, both Igneous and Metamorphic rocks are time-consuming, require multiple resources, and are very expensive to blast compared to Sedimentary rocks
As a result of Ekiti’s topography, Ekiti roads are Hill roads, curved roads that deviate from being a straight line, whereas no 4KM road in Ekiti is straight, yet they are hill and curved roads
At the entry or exit of Ekiti State, Trunk A roads are old roads. Recently, there have been more heavy-duty vehicles on the Ekiti road than before due to the blockage of heavy-duty vehicles plying the Akungba Akoko axis. The Federal Government should reduce heavy-duty vehicles on Nigerian roads by investing in Sea/River ports, pipelines to transport petroleum products, and a train system that connects all State capitals and major cities
Since the start of the 4th Republic in Nigeria, this is the first time Ekiti indigenes have been so close to decision-makers at the Federal level. We are calling on them to use their influence on the Federal Government for the benefit of Trunk A road users and the Federal presence in Ekiti State and other states in Nigeria, while the State Government should come to the aid of road users.
For a better Nigeria, as well as to proffer sustainable solution to avoid back and forth on Nigeria roads in the future, we must advocate for a Nigeria where we put an end to the Unitary system, let each Community/State/Region take ownership and use their resources to develop themselves to ensure the Federal Government reduce the burden on its neck, this will increase community development towards the Nigeria we want.
Kayode Teslim Owoso
Ògbógbó Jìgbò
Èyàn Òranfè Onílé Iná
From Tophill of Èrìò Èkìtì
kayodeteslim 