Collapsed Bridge Cuts Off Residents, Paralyses Economic Activities In Osogbo Community

RESIDENTS of Antakiti, a community in Osogbo, have been cut off from other communities, following the collapse of a bridge that links it with others.  

The residents who said commuting has not been easy since the bridge cut them off from the other communities, noted that the situation has also affected economic activities in the area. 

Located at Ifesowapo Zone 1b, Antakiti, the bridge has a direct link to other zones in the community. 

The bridge also links Mallam Tope, Aiyekale, Ota-Efun, Oke Odo, Jesu Wa Laaye, Ori Oke Goshen, Ayeegbami and Ore Ofe communities.

OSUN DEFENDER visited the area on Wednesday and it was observed that residents of the area crawled the debris to access other communities.

The medium also learnt that the collapsed bridge has been causing flood in the area. 

Also, a nylon company in the area was said to have folded up because it could no longer transport materials easily. 

Speaking with OSUN DEFENDER, the Treasurer of the Community, Mr Hammed Raheem, said the collapsed bridge has paralysed economic activities in the area.

Raheem who noted that the community had written series of letters to both local and state governments on their plight, said members of the community had contributed fund to repair the bridge, explaining that the available fund could not do something tangible on it. 

He said, “We have written letters concerning this collapsed bridge to the local government but we are yet to see any positive response.

“There is also someone in our community who works at the state House of Assembly. Through the person, we have presented our case at the assembly but nothing has been done. 

“The community tried to salvage the bridge by contributing money to fix it, but it is beyond what we can do. The bridge has collapsed totally. We only tried to control the erosion.

“The situation has affected our economy in the area because we can no longer move our goods freely to other communities and people don’t come to our community to trade because of the collapsed bridge.”

Asked how children and other residents are connecting other communities, Raheem said the children took an alternative road which he claimed was not also in good shape. 

“We do not allow our children to pass through the debris on the collapsed bridge and if they must do so, there will be someone at the other end who will carry them up. The children have to find another route to go to their schools now. 

“Unfortunately, the alternative road is also not ideal for the children, especially when it rains because they had to pass throgh a tiny wooden constructed bridge.”

A resident of the area who does not want his name in print said he lost his fish farming to flood as a result of the collapsed bridge. 

The resident also said houses around the collapsed bridge have been affected, appealing to the state and local governments to help the community. 

According to him, “We have been experiencing flooding here for the past two years. My fish farm was washed away by the flood and many houses, including my church were affected.

“I want to call on the authorities to help us in the area. The situation is not ideal, especially during rainy periods.”

In his words, the Atayese of Antakiti, Chief Olalekan Muibi, told the medium that the Head of the Community (Baale), Chief Mojeed Olayiwola had made efforts to call the attention of the government to the collapsed bridge. 

He said: “Our Baale has been going about to see that the bridge is fixed but you know that things are not so easy to get in this country. 

“The road has cut us off from the other communities and the erosion from the collapsed bridge has also affected our road. We need urgent attention from the government.”