Date: 2021-09-24

Residents of Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, have expressed concern over the influx of commercial trailers along Oko-Olowo and Oloje axis of the metropolis.

The residents, who spoke on Wednesday, said the action endangers the lives of motorists and other road users.

They spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria on in Ilorin. A commercial tricyclist, Yusuf Adisa, said more drivers of the articulated vehicles conveying petroleum and other goods are now plying some major streets in llorin through Oko-Olowo.

Adisa noted that the truck drivers had been plying the roads for a long time, occasionally and mostly in the evenings and nights, but recently they now ply the roads unchecked during day time.

He said their movement was causing lots of havoc on the roads as there were more potholes and traffic congestion from Oko-Olowo to Oloje, down to Adeta Roundabout.

Idris Abdullah, a commercial motorcyclist, said the increase in the number of trailers along Ogidi-Oloje axis had caused lots of accidents for motorcyclists. Abdullah said trailers are always on the road at great discomfort and obstruction to other road users, while some motorcyclists manoeuvre through the road shoulders with some of them normally falling down with their passengers.

He said most of the time, some motorcyclists had to leave the tarred road and pass beside the road to enable them reach their passengers’ destination in good time.

Abeni Afenibaro, a resident of Oloje area, said the increase in the number of trailers on the streets was scary and alarming. Afenibaro said many children passing by the roadside are prone to danger. She said with schools resumption, many pupils find it difficult to cross the road.

Afenibaro said several government workers and students get stuck on the road due to traffic congestion caused by the trailers and eventually getting to their destination late.

The residents therefore pleaded with the state government to find lasting solution to the issue and make residential areas have easy and free movements with minimal stress.

Reacting to the development, the Federal Controller of Works in Kwara State, Alhaji Wasiu Atitebi, said the Federal Ministry of Works was aware of the situation caused by some bad portions of the roads formerly plied by the trailers.

Atitebi however appealed to residents of the affected areas to exercise patience as the ministry was making effort to repair the bad portions of the roads. NAN.