Inside Ifetedo: How LG Headquarters Survives On River Water
- By Cyril Olaniyan
In Nigeria’s South West, where Osun State is often described as a centre of education and civilisation, residents of Ifetedo, headquarters of Ife South Local Government Area, are still forced to depend on streams, wells and untreated river water for survival in 2026.
A fact-finding visit to the agrarian community near the Okeigbo–Ile-Oluji corridor bordering Ondo State revealed a troubling reality: a town with a university campus, thousands of residents and administrative status as a council headquarters, yet lacking two of the most basic public utilities: potable water and stable electricity.
With a population of about 35,000 people, Ifetedo plays strategic economic roles in the timber trade and agriculture. It also hosts the College of Law of Osun State University, bringing students and academic activities into the community.
But beyond the academic presence lies what residents describe as years of infrastructural neglect. At the palace, the Olubosin of Ifetedo, Oba Akinola Oyetade, spoke with mixed feelings, describing water scarcity as a major challenge for the community.
The king lamented that residents of the town still depend on streams and wells for their water needs, a situation not only stressful but vulnerable to water-borne diseases.
“Water is a major problem for us here in Ifetedo. Our people stress about getting water; meanwhile, we have the Oni River, which borders us with Okeigbo. It’s been there for years, we’ve been drinking from boreholes but the generality of my people still goes to the streams to fetch water till date.
“The Ondo state Government supplies water to Okeigbo town from that Oni river and I wonder why the Osun state Government is not doing the same for us,” he said.
Within the town centre, a borehole located opposite the central mosque stood abandoned and non-functional, with residents confirming it had not produced water for years.
Residents say the situation becomes worse during dry seasons when streams shrink and queues at the few working wells become longer.
Electricity supply presents another layer of hardship. Community members alleged that the town largely depends on power routed from neighbouring communities, which is supplied irregularly.
“These transformers and wires are just decorations. Sometimes we see light only a few times a month. “Businesses cannot survive without generators and you can also confirm this by yourself, “ a petty trafer said.
President of Ifetedo Progressive Union, Adepoju Adewole, accused the government of abandoning the community despite its administrative importance. “For a whole local government headquarters, the only project we can mention is about 1.5 kilometres of road. That is too small. Our markets need development, our roads are bad, and there is no meaningful infrastructure,” he said.
When contacted, Chairman of Ife South Local Government, Muftau Adegbite, acknowledged infrastructure gaps and promised that the council would prioritise some road projects before the end of the year. “If you are talking about roads, yes I will admit that and by the special grace of God, before the end of the year, we have plans on some roads in the community,” Adegbite noted.
