Ajadi, Sanda, Olasunkanmi Donate ₦5m to Rebuild Collapsed Oloya Bridge in Ibadan

The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) senatorial candidate for Oyo Central in the 2027 general elections, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has joined the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Oyo State, Hon. Sikiru Oyedele Sanda, and other political leaders to raise ₦5 million for the reconstruction of the collapsed Oloya Bridge in Egbeda Local Government Area of Ibadan.

Others involved in the intervention are the lawmaker representing Egbeda State Constituency, Hon. Olasunkanmi Samson Babalola, and the Vice Chairman of Egbeda Local Government, Oladebo Ibrahim, popularly known as Simple.

The leaders made the commitment during a visit to Ifesowopo Oloya, Onibuore, Monatan, on Friday, November 13, 2026, to inspect the ongoing reconstruction of the bridge.

The bridge reportedly collapsed following a flood about six years ago, leaving residents with no alternative but to use an unsafe makeshift wooden structure.

The situation has exposed pedestrians, motorists and commercial motorcyclists to danger, with residents reporting accidents and loss of lives.

Speaking during the visit, Ajadi stressed the need for government at all levels to prioritise infrastructure development, particularly in communities where the absence of basic facilities threatens lives and economic activities.

He said a bridge was more than a passageway, describing it as an essential facility that connects communities, supports businesses and ensures the safety of residents.

“Government at all levels must give greater attention to infrastructure development, particularly in communities where the absence of basic facilities exposes residents to unnecessary dangers.

“A bridge is not just a means of crossing from one place to another; it is an essential facility that connects people, supports economic activities and protects human lives. We must not allow preventable accidents and deaths to continue because communities lack the necessary infrastructure,” he said.

Ajadi also pledged continued support for projects that address the immediate needs of residents and improve their safety and economic wellbeing.

In his remarks, Sanda sympathised with the community over the reported death of a commercial motorcyclist who fell from the makeshift bridge.

He commended residents for taking the initiative to begin the reconstruction and assured them that the leaders would support efforts to complete the project.

Sanda also disclosed that Ajadi had pledged to provide a supervisor to monitor the construction and ensure that the bridge meets the required standards.

He subsequently announced the ₦5 million intervention, comprising ₦4 million from Ajadi, ₦500,000 from Olasunkanmi and another ₦500,000 from Egbeda Local Government.

Olasunkanmi reaffirmed his commitment to supporting development projects that directly improve the lives of residents in his constituency, while Simple also expressed the local government’s support for the reconstruction.

The funds are expected to support the ongoing construction of a durable concrete bridge to provide safer access for residents and other road users.

Earlier, the Central Chairman of Oloya Community, Chief Azeez Oladimeji Babalola, said the community comprises several zones and thousands of residential buildings.

He explained that the collapsed bridge had remained a major challenge for residents, adding that a commercial motorcyclist recently died after falling from the temporary wooden structure, while another person sustained an arm injury.

Babalola said the community had made efforts to address its developmental challenges but appealed for additional support to complete the bridge, which he described as its most urgent need.

Also speaking, an engineer involved in the reconstruction, Ali Ahmed, appealed to the visiting leaders and other well-meaning individuals to support the timely completion of the project.

He said the proposed concrete bridge would provide a lasting solution to the transportation difficulties faced by residents and guarantee safer movement for pedestrians, motorists and commercial motorcyclists.