Illegal parking, roadside trading worsen traffic congestion across Osogbo
Motorists and commuters in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, have raised concerns over increasing traffic congestion caused by illegal parking, roadside trading, and indiscriminate passenger loading on major roads across the metropolis.
The activities, particularly during evening rush hours, have continued to obstruct traffic movement, with motorists complaining that roads expanded and rehabilitated by the state government are gradually losing their capacity to accommodate traffic.
DAILY POST observed that at Olonkoro, Ayetoro, Igbona, Odi-Olowo, Ota-Efun and Ajegunle along the Osogbo-Ikirun Road, commercial buses routinely stop on the highways to pick up passengers, while illegally parked vehicles and double parking force other motorists to make sudden lane changes.
The situation has reportedly turned some short journeys into prolonged trips, with commuters spending more than an hour navigating certain busy routes during peak periods.
A regular commuter, Anthony Alo, said the situation had become frustrating despite improvements in road infrastructure across the state capital.
"The situation is frustrating because the roads are no longer as constrained as they once were," Alo said.
He explained that motorists travelling towards Igbona, Ayetoro and Orisunbare now spend more time navigating the affected routes, particularly in the evenings when workers return home.
Alo called on the government to construct designated bus stops at Old Garage Junction and other strategic locations to prevent commercial vehicles from obstructing traffic and separate pedestrian movement from vehicular activities.
The development has also attracted complaints from traders whose business activities are affected by indiscriminate parking.
A spare parts dealer, Pelumi Tijani, accused motorists of turning the frontage of his business premises into parking spaces for extended periods.
"Vehicle owners from nowhere will just bring their cars and park in front of my office from morning till evening, blocking customers from seeing my goods," Tijani said.
Similarly, a point-of-sale, POS merchant, Ojo Dolapo, identified indiscriminate passenger loading by commercial transport operators as a major cause of recurring congestion around Igbona and Ajegunle.
The congestion has also raised concerns about road safety, as illegal parking, roadside trading and sudden vehicle movements increase the risk of accidents, while prolonged traffic delays contribute to fuel wastage, lost working hours and additional costs for businesses.
Reacting to the complaints, the Osun State Commissioner for Transportation, Sesan Oyedele, said the provision of designated parking spaces would help address the problem, while warning car dealers against displaying vehicles for sale on public roads.
"If parking spaces are provided, people will stop parking on the roads," Oyedele said.
On vehicles displayed for sale along highways, the commissioner said, "I will send Directors to check them in those affected areas."
Oyedele also disclosed that plans to construct designated bus stops in Osogbo had been captured in the state's 2025 and 2026 budgets but were affected by funding challenges arising from the non-release of local government allocations.
"There was a plan for construction of bus stops in Osogbo in the 2025 budget and also in the 2026 budget, but the non-release of local government allocations has affected implementation. The state is short of funds," he said.
He expressed hope that the financial challenge would be resolved before 2027 to enable the government to commence the construction of bus stops across the capital city.
Meanwhile, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, Osun Sector Command has identified roadside trading, illegal parking and indiscriminate passenger loading as major contributors to traffic congestion and double parking.
The Sector Commander, Sunday Adebayo, said the Corps would engage the car dealers' association, the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, and other relevant stakeholders before commencing enforcement activities.
"Roadside trading, illegal parking and indiscriminate passenger loading are major contributors to traffic jams and double parking," Adebayo said.
"We are working with the state government to proffer a lasting solution to roadside trading in the state," he added.
Illegal parking, roadside trading worsen traffic congestion across Osogbo