Student leaders across Osun State on Monday converged on Ikire to protest the persistent and dangerous practice of one-way driving by transporters along the Ibadan–Ife–Ilesa Expressway as it passes through the town.
The protest brought together leaders and representatives of the National Association of Osun State Students (NAOSS), the Students’ Union Government of Federal Polytechnic, Ede, the Students’ Union Government of Osun State University (UNIOSUN), and the leadership of the National Association of Ikire Students (NAIS).
Addressing journalists during the gathering in Ikire, the students condemned the act of driving against traffic under the pretext of damaged road sections, noting that the practice has led to several fatal accidents. They lamented that the situation has previously claimed the lives of residents and students, including students of UNIOSUN.
The leaders recalled a recent tragic incident in which a Dodo Ikire seller lost her life due to an accident caused by a transporter driving one way. They described the incident as painful and avoidable.
Speaking on behalf of Osun State students, the NAOSS President, Ajibola Lateef Folajinmi, stated that there are alternative routes available for motorists, stressing that no justification exists for endangering lives by driving against traffic. He called on the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other security agencies to take decisive action against erring transporters and enforce traffic regulations strictly.
Also speaking, the immediate past NAOSS President, Mustapha Akinsumbo Adedibu, warned that the loss of innocent lives for the convenience of a few drivers would no longer be tolerated in Ikire. He emphasized that the road is not damaged beyond use and should be driven according to its designated traffic flow.
Similarly, the UNIOSUN Students’ Union President, Ademurewa Imoleayo, appealed to the FRSC to urgently intervene, noting that accidents along the route have become frequent and alarming. He stressed that ensuring the safety of lives and property requires collective responsibility from authorities, transporters, and road users.
The students concluded by urging the concerned authorities to repair the affected portions of the road promptly and intensify monitoring to prevent further loss of lives along the Ikire axis of the expressway.
~Al-bayan Updates
