Breaking: Another Fresh Damage Hits Car Wash–Adatan Road Days After Reopening

By Olawale Olayinka, Abeokuta

Barely days after it was reopened to motorists following remedial repairs, a section of the newly rehabilitated Car Wash–Adatan Road in Abeokuta has again suffered a major failure, raising fresh concerns over the quality of work executed on the project.

The affected portion of the carriageway, located around the centre of the road, has caved in, leaving a large depression with broken asphalt and exposed stone base. The development has forced motorists to slow down and carefully navigate the damaged section to avoid accidents.

The road was reopened only a few days ago after undergoing repairs to an earlier failure that occurred less than a week after it was commissioned following its reconstruction.

At the time, the Ogun State Government attributed the initial damage to flooding caused by blocked drainage channels, maintaining that the failure was not the result of poor construction. The government subsequently closed the affected section for remedial work before reopening it to traffic.

However, the latest collapse, which occurred just days after the road was reopened, has reignited public concern over the durability of the reconstruction.

Residents and motorists expressed disappointment over the recurring failures, with some alleging poor workmanship and the use of substandard construction materials.

A commercial taxi driver, Mr. Semiu Aderibigbe, said a properly constructed road should be able to withstand heavy rainfall and regular traffic without deteriorating within weeks of completion.

"The government blamed the first damage on blocked drainage, but this latest collapse happened almost immediately after the repairs. That raises serious questions about the quality of the work done," he said.

Several residents called on the Ogun State Government to carry out an independent technical assessment of the project and hold the contractor accountable if investigations reveal negligence or failure to meet the required construction standards.

The recurring damage has also heightened safety concerns, as the depression poses a risk to motorists, particularly at night and during periods of heavy traffic.