Ogun Community Demands School and Bridge as Children Risk Expressway Crossings
Residents of Orimerunmu Community in Ogun State, Nigeria, are urgently appealing to authorities for a public secondary school and a pedestrian bridge, citing daily dangers faced by schoolchildren who must cross the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. The community, located several kilometres from Ibafo in the Obafemi Owode Local Government Area, has been left without a government secondary school, forcing families to send their children on perilous journeys to neighbouring towns.
During a visit to the community on Monday, residents told reporters that the lack of local educational infrastructure is not just an inconvenience but a life-threatening issue. Children must travel to Ibafo, Mowe, Magboro, and even Ojodu Berger to attend classes, with the expressway crossing at Olowotedo Junction being the most dangerous leg of their commute.
Why are parents in Orimerunmu so concerned?
Parents described a daily struggle marked by high transport costs and the constant fear of accidents. Iyabo Tolani, a parent, explained that her daughter attends Ibafo Community High School and must trek to Olowotedo bus stop before completing her journey. Tolani spends about 700 naira daily on transport, and when she cannot afford the fare, her daughter simply stays home.
“The major issue is crossing the expressway. They don't usually stop at Ibafo; they drop at Ago Igbala because that is the fastest route to the school. Only God is saving them every day,” Tolani said.
Another parent, Kehinde Bakare, echoed these sentiments, noting that she escorts her child to the bus stop each morning and waits at Olowotedo in the afternoon. She called on the government to act swiftly on both the school and the bridge.
What are the risks of crossing the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway?
The expressway is a major artery with high-speed traffic, and the absence of a pedestrian bridge at Olowotedo Junction has proven fatal. Ariyo Olalekan, Secretary to the Baale-in-Council, stated that the crossing has already claimed the lives of many children.
“The crossing of the expressway has been claiming so many children's lives. There is no pedestrian bridge in Olowotedo yet. So we are appealing to the government, either state or local government, to please help us,” Olalekan said.
Students themselves, like Aminat of Community High School, Ibafo, identified the expressway crossing as a primary challenge. The psychological toll on families is significant, with many parents reluctant to send their children out of the community for education.
Has the government responded to the community's requests?
According to Olalekan, the community has repeatedly written to the Ogun State Ministry of Education without receiving any feedback. He noted that even a letter routed through Abuja yielded no response. The community has identified land suitable for a school, and a local company has constructed a storey building with four or five classrooms that could be used to start Junior Secondary School classes.
The Ogun State Commissioner for Education, Prof Abayomi Adelaja Arigbabu, could not be reached for comment. Calls to his phone went unanswered, and a text message had not been replied to at the time of reporting.
What do residents want from the government?
Residents are making two clear demands: the establishment of a government secondary school in Orimerunmu and the construction of a pedestrian bridge at Olowotedo Junction. They argue that the existing primary school already serves neighbouring communities like Oriyanrin, Amu, and Ilate, proving the area's need for expanded public services.
Mrs Shittu, another parent, summed up the frustration: “The government secondary school we don't have in Orimerunmu is not good at all. Community High School in Ibafo is where our children are going. The government should please help us to intervene.”
For a community that has waited patiently for a response, the stakes could not be higher. Every day without action is another day children risk their lives for an education. The government's silence on this matter is a failure of basic public responsibility, one that demands immediate correction.