The Wole Soyinka Train Station is a vital part of the 156km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge rail commissioned in 2021.
Despite the modernization of the train station, the government did not address the need to upgrade the access road.
As a result, the 3km Kenya/Olokuta/Idi-Aba road has suffered from severe erosion and damage, making it nearly impassable.
Local residents have reported accidents and even fatalities due to the poor road conditions. One community leader, Chief Ezekiel Olushola, recounted an incident where a student lost their life in a collision caused by the road's condition.
Commuters who rely on the train station for their daily journeys have also expressed frustration. Olabisi Ogundipe, the Secretary of Cab Operators at the train station, highlighted the significant expenses incurred due to vehicle repairs caused by the road's conditions.
The chairman of the affected communities, Babatunde Folarin, estimated that residents have spent approximately N20 million to try to address the road's issues. Folarin emphasized that the road's condition has become an ecological disaster affecting over 52 communities in the area.
He called upon President Bola Tinubu and Governor Dapo Abiodun to take urgent action to repair the road, emphasizing that the road's state is an embarrassment and has a significant impact on the economic viability of the area.
Residents are hopeful that the state government, which has made strides in fixing various roads, will prioritize the repair of the Olokuta train station road to alleviate the suffering of commuters, especially those using the train station.