Why Olaiya Flyover Is Totally Unnecessary – Ex-Osun Lawmaker

Hon. Nurein Adebisi, a former member of the Osun State House of Assembly representing Ede South State Constituency has criticised the idea behind the Olaiya Flyover, describing it as a politically driven project rather than a necessary infrastructural project.

Osun Defender reports that this is coming after the Osun State Government, led by Governor Ademola Adeleke, banned trucks from passing the Olaiya Flyover in Osogbo.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state had during a press conference addressed by the immediate past Commissioner for Works, Mr. Oluremi Omowaiye, who supervised the project, accused Adeleke of plotting to demolish the flyover in a display of bitterness against his predecessor, Mr. Adegboyega Oyetola.

Omowaiye subsequently demanded the technical report relied on by Adeleke before placing a ban on trucks from plying the flyover, insisting that tests were carried out at every stage of the construction work on the bridge to ensure that maximum quality requirements were met.

However, the Governor while responding through his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, said Adeleke banned heavy-duty trucks and trailers from plying the Olaiya bridge to ensure public safety, adding that there was no decision to demolish the bridge.

He also said the decision was also a resolution of the State Security Council meeting, whose members raised alarm over the recent influx of trailers and heavy-duty trucks on Osun roads.

He added that public safety was the primary and secondary motivation behind the decision.

Meanwhile, speaking on “Gbagede Oro” programme on Redio Afinju, monitored by Osun Defender on Monday, the ex-lawmaker, who is a key figure in the Omoluabi Progressives and a loyalist of former Governor Rauf Aregbesola, expressed concerns over the project’s real intent.

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He said, “It is quite unfortunate that something meant to enhance the development of our state is being turned into a political tool. The situation is being viewed politically, and that is where the problem lies. There is a clear difference between having a genuine intention to do politics and embarking on a project with no tangible benefits for the people.”

Reflecting on the need for the flyover, the former legislator questioned the logic behind its construction, noting that there was no urgent need for it in the first place.

He added, “Before the flyover, we knew how Olaiya looked, and we know how it looks now with the flyover. There was no overwhelming traffic congestion or fatal accidents in that area to justify such a huge project. I recall that Remi Omowaye, in 2020 or 2021, claimed the reason for the flyover was an incident during a crossover night where a car killed someone. But is that enough justification to build a flyover?”

He emphasised that the decision to construct flyovers should be based on more than just isolated incidents like traffic accidents.

“A flyover should be built where there is consistent traffic congestion, where there is a genuine need for the flow of traffic to be improved. It is not every time a car accident happens that we should be thinking of constructing a flyover,” he said.

He emphasised that the decision to construct flyovers should be based on more than just isolated incidents like traffic accidents.

“A flyover should be built where there is consistent traffic congestion, where there is a genuine need for the flow of traffic to be improved. It is not every time a car accident happens that we should be thinking of constructing a flyover,” Adebisi said.