OSOGBO – 24/10/2024- Osunstate.gov.ng

Governor Ademola Adeleke banned heavy duty trucks and trailers from plying Olaiya bridge to ensure public safety but there is no decision to demolish the bridge.

The decision was also a resolution of the State Security Council meeting whose members raised alarm over recent influx of trailers and heavy duty trucks on Osun roads. Public safety was the primary and secondary motivation behind this decision.

Responding to allegations of political bias by some leaders of the opposition, the Spokesperson to the State Governor, Mallam Olawale Rasheed in a statement said the Governor has a sacred duty to take steps to secure public assets and residents especially in the face of two major developments in the last few weeks.

“Several technical reports have been submitted to the Governor on the deteriorating state of some sections of the bridge in recent times. As early as January, some public interest engineers approached the government to conduct an integrity test on the bridge. Similar conclusion was reached recently during a technical visit to the state by some national leaders of the construction industry.

“Several state leaders have also visited and examined the bridge with a verdict of urgency of action to preserve the assets while at the same time ensuring public safety. Members of the public can also conduct similar visits on top and around the bridge.

“While the technical review is ongoing, a new development in the transport sector warranted a preemptive action to limit load burden on the bridge. Due to road closure along Ibadan-Ogbomoso axiz, more heavy duty trucks now use Osun roads mostly passing through the bridge. Banning those trailers foreclosed any untowards happenings.

“I also want to inform the opposition that it was at the State Security Council meeting composed of security services commanders that the safety issue around Olaiya bridge was raised and resolution taken. All actors genuinely acted in the interest of the general public without political bias”, the Spokesperson noted in the statement.

Mallam Rasheed posited that Governor Adeleke has no time for petty politics as insinuated, noting that “a man building a multi- billion naira, multi- sectoral state infrastructure is too large hearted to worry about under-performance of recent past”

Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to Governor Adeleke.

OSOGBO- 21/10/2024 -Osunstate.gov.ng

Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure to ban heavy duty trucks from plying the Olaiya bridge at the state capital, citing safety reasons arising from the technical reports on the state of the bridge.

The Governor who presided over a security council meeting at Osogbo said the decision became necessary to protect the bridge from possible collapse and avoid untoward happenings with continuous passage by heavy trucks.

Describing the decision as a preemptive step, Governor Adeleke said the Ministry should erect barricades across the bridge to allow only cars and buses to ply through the road.

As a step towards implementing the directive, the Governor also instructed the Ministry to issue a travel advisory with radio jingles to sensitize members of the public and the transport ecosystem.

The Governor assured the public that the decision was taken to protect the public and state assets while a long lasting review of the technical status of the bridge is being conducted by the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure.

Signed:
Mallam Olawale Rasheed,
Spokesperson to the State Governor.