At Olonkoro, Ayetoro, Igbona, Odi-Olowo, Ota-Efun and Ajegunle along the Osogbo–Ikirun Road, journeys that should take only a few minutes can stretch considerably during evening rush hours.
Commercial buses frequently stop on the highway to pick up passengers, while indiscriminately parked vehicles and double parking force motorists to make sudden lane changes, creating avoidable traffic bottlenecks.
For regular commuters, the situation has become a source of frustration.
Speaking with Voice Air Media, a commuter, Anthony Alo, said the situation was particularly concerning because several roads had undergone improvements in recent years.
According to him, motorists travelling towards Igbona, Ayetoro and Orisunbare now spend considerable time navigating these routes during peak periods.
He called for the construction of designated bus stops at Old Garage Junction and other strategic locations to separate passenger loading activities from the main carriageway and improve pedestrian movement.
THE CONTRADICTION OF ROAD EXPANSION
Four years after Governor Ademola Adeleke assumed the additional responsibility of Commissioner for Works, his administration's investment in road infrastructure has become visible across parts of the state capital.
Major roads have been expanded or rehabilitated, while two flyover bridges have also been constructed in Osogbo.
Although these interventions have improved road infrastructure, the increasing occupation of road shoulders and available parking spaces by traders, commercial vehicles and improperly parked cars raises questions about traffic management and the sustainability of those investments.
The contradiction is becoming increasingly apparent: roads expanded to accommodate more traffic are gradually losing their effective capacity to roadside activities and parking indiscipline.
The situation becomes more pronounced in the evenings when thousands of workers return home.
Along the Igbona–Ayetoro and Ota-Efun corridors, traders display their goods close to the highway, while commercial vehicles pick up passengers at unauthorised locations.
Similar concerns have been reported around Owode-Ede, particularly on market days, as well as Station Road, Igbona and Ajegunle, where roadside activities frequently interfere with traffic movement.
RESIDENTS DEMAND STRONGER ENFORCEMENT
Beyond the inconvenience to commuters, illegal parking is also creating difficulties for business owners whose commercial activities depend on accessibility.
A spare parts seller, Pelumi Tijani, complained that motorists regularly park in front of his shop for extended periods, preventing customers from accessing his business.
"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," he said.
Similarly, a Point of Sale (POS) merchant, Ojo Dolapo, identified indiscriminate passenger loading as a major contributor to recurring congestion around Igbona and Ajegunle.
The implications extend beyond traffic delays. Illegal parking and roadside encroachment can increase road safety risks, while prolonged congestion translates into lost working hours, additional fuel consumption and increased operating costs for businesses.
TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONER SPEAKS
Speaking with Voice Air Media, the Osun State Commissioner for Transportation, Hon. Sesan Oyedele, acknowledged the parking challenge, arguing that the provision of designated parking facilities would discourage motorists from occupying the roads.
He also expressed concern about car dealers displaying vehicles for sale along public roads.
"I will send directors to check them in those affected areas," he said.
On the proposed construction of designated bus stops, Oyedele disclosed that the initiative had featured in the state's 2025 and 2026 budgets but had been affected by funding constraints.
"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. We pray the issue is resolved before 2027 so we can construct bus stops in the capital city," he said.
A car dealer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, acknowledged the challenges associated with roadside vehicle displays.
The dealer, however, noted that some offenders were not members of the recognised association, suggesting that sensitisation would be necessary alongside enforcement.
FRSC PLANS STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Osun State has also expressed concern about the growing occupation of road spaces by traders, commercial transport operators and car dealers.
The State Corps Commander, Sunday T. Adebayo, told Voice Air Media that these activities were contributing significantly to traffic congestion and double parking.
"Roadside trading, illegal parking and indiscriminate passenger loading are major contributors to traffic jams and double parking," he said.
He disclosed that the Corps would engage the car dealers' association, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and other relevant stakeholders before commencing enforcement activities.
"We are working with the state government to proffer a lasting solution to roadside trading in the state," he added.
BEYOND ROAD CONSTRUCTION
For Osogbo, the challenge is no longer limited to constructing wider roads or rehabilitating existing highways. It also involves ensuring that the available infrastructure is properly managed and protected from indiscriminate occupation.
Designated parking spaces, functional bus stops, regulated roadside trading and consistent enforcement of traffic regulations remain important components of effective urban transportation management.
As the state government continues its infrastructure drive, residents and commuters will expect corresponding attention to traffic discipline and the protection of public road spaces.
Ultimately, the success of road expansion cannot be measured solely by the kilometres constructed or rehabilitated, but also by how effectively motorists, pedestrians, traders and commercial transport operators use the available space.
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