The roads were unusually empty in Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State on the first day of April 2013. Not that the traffic in the city on regular days ranked anywhere near that of Lagos or Abuja, but the city was beginning to develop its own reputation for traffic logjams at certain times of the day on working days of the week.

The unusually empty streets provided the opportunity to evaluate the ongoing changes in the state capital. From Lafenwa where an extension of the Ogun River bridge is nearing conclusion to Enu-Gada where several houses have been demolished to accommodate the road dualisation underway, Abeokuta is clearly wearing a new look.

Turning right into Totoro, the road opens up to a smooth carpet of coal tar that would tempt any driver to step on the gas, bar the speed breaks at regular intervals. The beauty of the formerly narrow road is further emphasised by the fine line of simple filigreed streetlights on the pavements. The view becomes more breathtaking by night when the yellow lights from the streetlight are cast on the smooth black coal tar carpet juiced up by a mélange of the headlights and brake lights of gently cruising vehicles.

Anyone familiar with Totoro Road before May 2012 will notice the striking evolution that has since taken place. Besides the road now bifurcated into six lanes, beautiful well-painted houses greet the wandering eyes of passengers looking out of the windows of their cars. A few mud house ruins are still visible but there are clear evidences of imminent replacements with eye-catching buildings.

Moving further towards the Ita-Iyalode axis, the retouched statue of Iyalode Efunroye Tinunbu stands gallantly in her square with an I-am-a-survivor pose, considering the extent of demolition that went on around her. Akiness Petrol Station was not that lucky; it was demolished and all its underground tanks exhumed. The two-dimensional stature of late Oba Dr. Adisa Odeleye, the former Olowu of Owu, was also not spared though it was replaced by a garden similarly named after the late king.

Turning left into Ita-Eko, off Akinolugbade Road, a pedestrian bridge is immediately obvious. Being the first pedestrian bridge in Abeokuta, it always catches attention; it is fully covered and also has doors sealing both entrances. On completion, it is said that the bridge would be fitted with air conditioners.


Getting to [url]Sokori... [/url]

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The traffic at lafenwa is not a joke at all. Was there last weekend and spent 2hrs on a spot.

plenty go still dey again now..

alex406:
The traffic at lafenwa is not a joke at all. Was there last weekend and spent 2hrs on a spot.

But all those things don stop now o. Were we too fast to praise them?