Residents and leaders of Yaba Community in Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State have raised the alarm over what they described as the abandonment and mismanagement of multi-billion naira World Bank-funded infrastructure projects meant to transform the area and improve the lives of thousands of people.
The affected projects, executed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), include the Odode-Bajare Road, Ojota-Ala Road, and the World Bank Market at Yaba/Ojotu.
In a strongly worded petition addressed to Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the community accused the state government of allowing the critical development projects to deteriorate into a state of neglect, despite their importance to agriculture, transportation, and local commerce.
The petition, signed by Chief Adegoke Fredrick Boluwaji, the Araghaye of Idanre and Head of Yaba Community, along with other community representatives, expressed deep disappointment over the stalled projects, which they said were originally designed to improve rural mobility, facilitate agricultural trade, and unlock economic opportunities for residents.
According to the community leaders, hope was rekindled when Governor Aiyedatiwa officially flagged off the Bajare Road project on August 15, 2024, while construction also commenced on the Ojota-Ala Road around the same period. They also noted that work had begun on the World Bank Market project, with site mobilization and block molding activities already underway.
However, what was expected to usher in a new phase of development for the agrarian community allegedly took a dramatic turn when the market project became entangled in a contractor dispute.
The petition alleged that another group stormed the market construction site, claimed ownership of the contract, and forcefully removed the original contractor from the project location, abruptly halting all ongoing work.
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The leaders described the development as shocking and unacceptable, saying the dispute has since left the market project completely abandoned and the promise of economic revitalization hanging in uncertainty.
They further lamented that the road projects have also suffered serious setbacks, with both the Odode-Bajare Road and Ojota-Ala Road now reportedly in deplorable condition and nearly impassable.
According to the community, the poor state of the roads has severely affected the movement of people, farm produce, and goods, placing additional hardship on farmers, traders, transporters, and residents who depend on the roads for their daily livelihoods.
In the petition, the community leaders said the situation had dashed the hopes of residents who had looked forward to the projects as a lifeline for economic growth and social development.
They stated that the abandonment of the projects was particularly disturbing because they were funded under a World Bank-backed initiative, which was expected to bring accountability, transparency, and quality infrastructure delivery.
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The petition read in part:
“We, the undersigned leaders and representatives of the Yaba Community in Idanre Local Government Area, write to express our deep concern over the abandonment and mismanagement of critical infrastructure projects under the World Bank/Ondo State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in our region.”
It continued:
“These projects, which run into billions of naira, were intended to improve rural mobility, facilitate trade, and unlock economic opportunities for our people.”
The leaders added that while they were encouraged by the governor’s flag-off of the road projects and the initial progress recorded at the market site, the sudden halt in construction has now left the community frustrated and disillusioned.
Describing the situation as unacceptable, they warned that the abandonment of the projects has not only undermined public confidence in government promises but also jeopardized the welfare of thousands of people in the area.
As part of their appeal, the Yaba leaders urged Governor Aiyedatiwa to personally intervene by visiting the affected project sites, resolving the contractor dispute, and ensuring that the rightful contractor resumes work immediately.
They also called on the government to re-mobilize construction teams to return to the sites and complete the abandoned road and market projects without further delay.
In addition, the community appealed for the establishment of a monitoring committee to oversee the implementation of the projects and ensure transparency, accountability, and timely delivery.
The leaders maintained that they still have confidence in the governor’s ability to address the matter, noting that swift action from the state government could restore hope and dignity to the people of Yaba and surrounding communities.
Reacting to the allegations, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communication and Strategy, Allen Sowore, assured residents that the concerns raised would be communicated to the governor and addressed accordingly.
Sowore said Governor Aiyedatiwa had consistently maintained that no government project in Ondo State would be abandoned, stressing that the Yaba situation would not be treated differently.
He said: “The Governor has consistently assured that no project in the state will be abandoned, and this situation will not be an exception.”
He further added: “I can confidently assure you that this complaint will be brought to his attention, and all attendant challenges will be promptly addressed. The community should, therefore, remain assured.”
For many residents of Yaba, however, the assurance from government officials may only provide temporary relief unless visible action is taken on the ground.
As the roads remain difficult to access and the market project continues to gather dust, residents say what was once seen as a symbol of progress has now become a painful reminder of broken expectations.
The unfolding controversy has once again brought attention to the broader issue of project implementation, accountability, and infrastructure delivery in rural communities, where development projects often begin with great fanfare but struggle to reach completion.
For Yaba Community, the expectation now is simple: that the promises made under the World Bank-supported RAAMP initiative will not be allowed to fade into another chapter of abandoned government projects.
