By Victor Akinkuolie

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Passengers and commuters were stranded for several hours on Tuesday along the Ajue/Ore road in Odigbo Local Government area of Ondo State.

The situation, caused by a two-day heavy downpour in the area, disrupted the free flow of both commercial and private vehicles.

The downpour, which was accompanied by strong winds, began on Monday night and lasted until Tuesday morning. It resulted in severe flooding on the ongoing construction site of the Ore/Akure road being handled by the Federal Government.

A source in the area told our correspondent that the flooding began shortly after the rain started, from Kinisho community—a suburban village near Ajue town—and extended to Lasia town in Odigbo Local Government area.

He explained that several passengers, including travelers, civil servants, and farmers, were stranded until 9:00 p.m. on that fateful day due to the flooded road.

When our correspondent visited the road on Wednesday, vehicles were moving freely, including both commercial and private cars. However, several long vehicles were seen moving slowly.

While traffic had resumed, vehicles were still navigating the road with caution. Meanwhile, workers and laborers of the construction company were seen working on the road, apparently to prevent further disruptions.

Recall that the Federal Government awarded the contract for the road construction towards the end of 2024, with the project starting from Ajue town.

Speaking with our correspondent, one of the officials of the construction company—who preferred to remain anonymous—confirmed that the gridlock on Tuesday night was caused by the two-day downpour.

He assured that the company is working diligently to prevent future disruptions and advised motorists to exercise patience, especially during the rainy season.