By Friday Omosola
Students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) have taken to the streets to protest the alarming number of accidents and fatalities involving their colleagues due to the deteriorated state of the Ifaki–Oye–Ikole Road.
In its Tuesday report, The Punch said the students marched to the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) office in Ado Ekiti on Monday to demand immediate action.
They issued a 48-hour ultimatum to FERMA and the Federal Government to begin repairs on the road, warning that failure to comply would result in them blocking the road and making it inaccessible to other users.
Leading the protest, the Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Mary Abiodun, decried the road’s poor condition, describing it as a deadly hazard that has claimed the lives of over 10 students, including a recent graduate, Ohonsi Williams Ehigie, who died last week in a fatal accident.
The protesters carried placards with inscriptions such as “FUOYE students’ lives matter,” “Repair Oye-Ikole federal road now,” “Enough is enough,” “President Tinubu, save our students’ lives,” “Stop neglect of our infrastructure,” and “FERMA in Ekiti State is useless.”
Ms Abiodun expressed her frustration over FERMA’s inaction despite numerous appeals to address the issue.
She described the Oye–Ikole Road as a “daily death trap” endangering the lives of students, staff, and residents of Oye Ekiti.
“The negligence has cost us dearly, with the tragic loss of our beloved alumnus, Ohonsi Williams Ehigie, being the latest heartbreak,” she lamented.
“The Oye–Ikole Road is a crucial link between the nation’s capital, Abuja, and several southwestern states, including Ekiti, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo. This road is heavily trafficked by large vehicles such as petroleum tankers and 18-wheel trucks transporting goods.
“Tragically, this road has been in disrepair for an extended period, leading to numerous accidents, loss of lives, and untold hardship. We cannot tolerate FERMA’s negligence, which endangers the lives of FUOYE students, staff, and the local community.
“Immediate action is imperative. We can no longer endure the brutal loss of our students due to improper road maintenance and the absence of necessary palliatives. We can’t take it anymore,” the SUG president said.
The Federal Road Maintenance Engineer for FERMA, Simon Adeniyi, apologised to the students for their losses and the poor condition of the road.
He assured them that the Federal Government had already awarded the contract for its repair, and work would commence soon.
Adeniyi stated, “If you followed the news, about a month ago, this same road was awarded by the Federal Government. I assure you that the contractor will resume work any moment now.
“This won’t be a flexible pavement like asphalt; it will be a concrete road. In the meantime, FERMA has a palliative measure in place that will begin shortly,” he explained.
Adeniyi added that the Federal Controller of Works had indicated the palliative repairs could proceed while awaiting the start of the main construction.
