Ondo Community Petitions Governor Over Abandoned World Bank Projects
The Yaba community, located in the Idanre Local Council Area of Ondo State, has formally petitioned the state governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, regarding the alleged abandonment of critical infrastructure projects funded by the World Bank. These projects, managed through the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), were intended to enhance rural development but have reportedly been neglected, leaving roads and a market in disrepair.
Details of the Alleged Neglect
In the petition, community leaders highlighted specific projects that have been left incomplete, including the Odode-Bajare Road, Ojota-Ala Road, and the World Bank Market along the Yaba/Ojotu (Olofin-Ojota) axis. These initiatives, valued at billions of naira, were designed to improve rural transportation, support agricultural trade, and boost local livelihoods. However, the community asserts that they have instead become symbols of governmental and agency neglect, severely impacting daily life and economic activities.
The petition was signed by key figures such as Araghaye of Idanre, community leader, and Chief Fredrick Adegoke, head of the Yaba community. Additional signatories include Elder Fola Adeghate, General Chairman of the Yaba Administrative Committee, and Comrade Francis Akinyode, Secretary of the Yaba Market Development Committee. They detailed that the Bajare Road project was inaugurated in August 2024, but progress has since stalled, with the market project halted abruptly due to unresolved disputes between contractors.
Impact on the Community
The community leaders emphasized the dire consequences of this abandonment. The Odode-Bajare Road and Ojota-Ala Road are now described as impassable, hindering the movement of people and goods and disrupting agricultural trade. The stalled market project has further dashed hopes for economic development, undermining public confidence in World Bank-funded initiatives entrusted to the Ondo State Government. This situation jeopardizes the welfare of thousands of residents who rely on these infrastructures for their livelihoods.
In their appeal, the community respectfully requested Governor Aiyedatiwa to visit the project sites to assess the level of abandonment firsthand. They urged him to resolve the contractor disputes, ensure the rightful contractor resumes work, remobilize construction teams to complete the road and market projects, and establish a monitoring committee to ensure transparency and accountability. The leaders expressed hope that his intervention would restore progress and dignity to their community, reaffirming their trust in governmental oversight.
