A construction engineer, Engr. Babafemi Oke, has offered a cost effective and employment generating solution to the persistent traffic congestion and pedestrian disorder around the Oja Oba axis in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
Speaking exclusively with Palace Pulse News, Engr. Oke criticised the recent decision by government authorities to install iron barricades in the area, describing it as an expensive and unsustainable approach that may not address the root of the problem.
“The use of iron bars to divide the road might seem like a quick fix, but it will cost the government millions of naira and may not stop the indiscriminate crossing by pedestrians,” Oke said.
Instead, he recommended that the state government take a more strategic approach by sensitizing the public on the dangers of unlawful road crossing and setting up a permanent mobile court under the bridge near the Oja Oba intersection and another one close to the Olukayode Shopping Complex.
“This approach will not only bring sanity to the area but also create employment. With the mobile court in place, the state can deploy a special task force to enforce road use regulations and penalise offenders on the spot,” he explained.
He added that such a system would ultimately generate revenue for the state, unlike iron barricades that require heavy investment and constant maintenance.
The engineer also called on the government to take firm steps against the rise of indiscriminate motor parks along the Oja Oba axis, especially those loading long-distance passengers. According to him, these parks contribute significantly to the traffic chaos and hinder free flow of movement in the market area.
“The government must stop motor parks from springing up on every available space. It adds to the congestion, causes accidents, and creates unnecessary delays for commuters,” he warned.
Engr. Oke urged the authorities to prioritise long term, people-oriented solutions over temporary infrastructure that does not tackle human behavior, insisting that “discipline and enforcement are key to restoring sanity” in the Oja Oba corridor.
