Abuja Travellers Stranded As Students Protest In Ado Ekiti

Commuters and motorists found themselves stranded as students and youths took to the streets to protest the deplorable state of the Ado Ekiti-Ijan-Ikare road on Monday.

The federal highway, crucial for linking Ado-Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti state, with Ondo, Kogi, and Abuja, was blockaded by angry students, reportedly from Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti.

The protest, lasting several hours, brought human and vehicular movements to a halt, resulting in heavy traffic congestion and bringing activities along the route to a standstill for most of the day. Notably, key institutions such as the State Government College, Federal Silos, State Cargo Airport under construction, and Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), including its 400-bed Multi-System Hospital, are situated along this road.

The students aimed to draw attention to the dire state of the roads, emphasizing that it serves as the sole access route to their campus. Ayodele, one of the students, highlighted the risks students face due to the road’s condition, citing instances of accidents and fatalities. He recounted how parents and newly matriculated students were forced to trek back to the city due to a lack of transportation.

Representatives from various staff unions at the Polytechnic echoed similar sentiments, stating that years of appeals to the government had fallen on deaf ears. They described the road as a death trap, attributing several fatalities to accidents caused by its poor state. Despite previous efforts to patch certain portions of the road, they stressed the urgent need for total reconstruction.

The unions vowed to continue their protest until the government took concrete action. Stranded motorists and commuters expressed solidarity with the Polytechnic staff and students, acknowledging the financial strain caused by frequent vehicle maintenance due to road damage. It’s worth noting that Aare Afe Babalola, founder of ABUAD, has been solely maintaining the road for the past decade.

Send Us A Press Statement Advertise With Us Contact

 And For More Nigerian News Visit GWG.NG