By Bayo Famoroti
For years, motorists and commuters groaned about the deplorable state of the Akure–Ikere–Ado road. It was one of the most complained-about routes in the South-West, notorious for its deep potholes, endless traffic delays, and frequent accidents.
But today, that same road tells a different story. I travelled on it last weekend, and to my surprise, the entire stretch from Akure to Ado-Ekiti has been fully tarred. The journey, which once took nearly two hours, now takes about 35 minutes. It was a smooth and comfortable ride all through.
Yet, there is an unusual silence. When the road was bad, everyone talked about it from commuters to politicians. Now that it has been repaired, hardly anyone seems to acknowledge the improvement. We must learn to give credit when things work, not only when they fail.
However, there’s another side to this conversation. Transport fares on the route have remained stubbornly high. The common excuse by commercial drivers was the bad state of the road high fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance, and wasted hours. Now that the road has been fixed, it is only reasonable that the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) reviews transport charges downward.
A trip that cost ₦4,000 when the road was bad should not remain the same now that it’s smooth and fast. A reduction to ₦2,000 would not only be fair to passengers but would also show that the union recognizes the improvement in infrastructure.
We must hold our leaders accountable when things go wrong, but we must also appreciate when they deliver. The Akure–Ikere–Ado road is a success story worth talking about and one that should reflect in the pockets of everyday travellers.
