By Emmanuel Oluwadola

Residents of KCM-Canaan Land Street, Davog, Ijoka Road, Akure, have raised alarm over an expanding roadside pit, appealing for the intervention of the Ondo State Government.

In an interview with Weekend Hope, members of the community attributed the damage to the diversion of drainage to a particular spot during a road construction project carried out over seven years ago.

According to Pastor Raphael Awe, who owns four shops in the area, the pit has been expanding due to erosion caused by persistent heavy rainfall.

He said, “This pit started expanding when road workers diverted the drainage system to that spot. Because of this, water flowing from other streets kept enlarging the hole. The expanding hole has destroyed parts of my shop.”

Awe added that since the State Environmental Protection Agency stopped inspecting the area, some passers-by have resorted to dumping waste into the pit, thereby worsening the situation.

A resident, who pleaded anonymity, disclosed that the pit nearly claimed the lives of a motorcyclist and his passenger in 2024, after they accidentally ran into it.

Another resident, Mrs Victoria Ogunlade, emphasised the urgent need for government intervention, saying the issue had gone beyond what community efforts could handle.

She appealed for the expansion of the drainage system in the area to ensure the seamless flow of stormwater, in order to avert flooding and further road damage.

Also speaking, a shop owner, Mrs Awe Kehinde, said several motorcyclists had fallen into the pit during heavy rainfall, with their motorcycles almost swept away.

“Before now, we could cross the pit on foot, but it has greatly expanded and now poses a serious threat to lives. I urge the government to act swiftly before this pit completely destroys our shops,” she warned.

The General Chairman of the KCM-Canaan Land community, Alhaji Jimoh Adewoye, who assumed office in 2023, told The Hope that the community had spent over N800,000 to maintain the road, but erosion continued to wreak havoc.

He revealed that the community leaders had written several letters to the State Ministry of Works, and the ministry had assured them that the Canaan Land main road, including the pit, would be fixed after the ongoing Ijoka double-lane project is completed.

“We even heard that the Davog-Kajola road has been listed among the roads slated for construction this year. Our plea is that the government should commence and complete the work on time, especially the Ijoka double lane,” the chairman stated.