Residents of Ajebo Road Housing Estate, Kemta, Abeokuta have been thrown into mourning following the killing of a Professor of Biochemical Toxicology with the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Oladipo Ademuyiwa by a hit-and-run driver on the newly rehabilitated Kemta-Somorin road on Sunday.
Prof Ademuyiwa, in his early 60s, was said to have just alighted from a cab and was about to cross the road from Prof Wole Soyinka end when a reckless driver rammed into him and escaped from the scene.
Dr Ayo Ajasa, Chairman, Ajebo Road Housing Estate Community Development Association (CDA), in a statement on Tuesday, described the tragic loss of the university lecturer as very avoidable if the state government had heeded several pleas of the community in the past on the need to install speed breakers on the road.
He described the death of the professor as a quantum loss to the community and the country as a whole given his invaluable contributions to knowledge sharing and dissemination in one of the country’s ivory towers.
Ajasa said, “This unfortunate incident, which occurred on Sunday, February 16, 2025, has once again exposed the dire need for immediate government intervention to prevent further tragedies on this road.
“It is disheartening that despite repeated appeals to the Ogun State government and relevant agencies, no concrete action has been taken to install speed breakers and other necessary safety measures on this road.
“The government did not hesitate in installing speed bumps on the Ilugun end of the road, but ignored our persistent requests to safeguard lives in Ajebo Road Housing Estate.”
He explained that to stop the unnecessary loss of life on the road, the state government should as a matter of urgency install speed breakers and lorry barriers along this road with clear traffic signage to caution motorists against reckless driving.
Ajasa also called for stricter law enforcement to curb excessive speeding within the estate.
He disclosed further that it was unacceptable that a community of law-abiding citizens must suffer repeated accidents, near-fatal encounters and now the loss of an esteemed professor, simply due to government inaction, adding that “another accident occurred within 24 hours of this tragic incident, proving that this road remains a death trap.”
Ajasa said, “We hold the government accountable and call on the Governor of Ogun State to intervene immediately before more lives are lost.
“We also appeal to the media, civil society organizations, and well-meaning Nigerians to amplify this call for justice and safer roads in our community.”
