How structural defect, outrage over safety concerns forced Osun Government to shut flyover commissioned weeks ago
The Osun State Government has temporarily shut a section of the recently commissioned LAMECO flyover bridge.
According to reports, a section of the 672-metre flyover caved in on Friday barely three weeks after Governor Ademola Adeleke commissioned it on July 1 and formally opened it to traffic.
According to eyewitness account, the caving in was as result of a heavy downpour that happened for almost eight hours between Thursday and Friday in Osogbo, the state capital.
The noticeable depression on the bridge raised concerns among motorists and residents as they took alternative routes.
The eyewitness further explained that the damaged area, located on one lane of the bridge, showed visible cracks and a sunken asphalt surface, forcing motorists to slow down while navigating the affected stretch.
Commuters expressed fears over the safety of the road and urged the authorities to carry out immediate repairs to prevent further deterioration.
Subsequently, the bridge was cordoned off as armed men of the Amotekun corps manned the bridge to prevent entry and exit or people gaining access to the bridge.
Adeleke’s projects in Osun are substandard – APC
Meanwhile, major opposition party in the state, All Progressives Congress (APC) in a reaction alleged that the development is a further testimonial that projects commissioned by the Governor Ademola Adeleke-led state government are substandard.
The party in a statement by its director of media and information, Kola Olabisi, expressed concern that the structure developed cracks just weeks after its inauguration amid fanfare.
The party therefore called on the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), and other professional bodies to conduct integrity tests on the flyover in the interest of public safety.
Also reacting, a party chieftain, Comrade Jimoh Ajayi Oyekola in a press statement issued on Friday questioned the quality of projects embarked on by the Adeleke administration.
“The disturbing incident captured in my possession and now circulating in the public domain regarding the newly commissioned Lameco Flyover has exposed what appears to be a serious failure in the execution and supervision of a project funded with billions of naira belonging to the people of Osun State.
If a bridge commissioned with so much celebration is already showing apparent signs of structural failure, then the people of Osun have every right to question the competence, transparency, and priorities of the present administration.
This development raises serious questions about the quality of contractors engaged, the standard of materials used, the level of professional supervision provided, and whether political considerations were placed above public safety.”
Oyekola therefore urged that an independent panel of enquiry be raised and anyone involved be appropriately sanctioned.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke’s administration, the Osun State Ministry of Works, the supervising engineers, consultants, contractors, and every official who inspected and certified this project must immediately account to the people. There must be no cover-up, no political spin, and no attempt to shield anyone from responsibility.
“If an independent investigation confirms that substandard construction, negligence, or abuse of public funds contributed to the incident, every person found culpable should be prosecuted without fear or favour. Public office is a sacred trust, not a licence to endanger the lives of innocent citizens.
“It is unacceptable that infrastructure built with taxpayers’ money should become a source of public anxiety instead of public confidence. Osun people deserve roads and bridges that meet professional engineering standards—not projects that raise safety concerns shortly after commissioning.
“I call on the Osun State Government to immediately close any affected section of the Lameco Flyover if public safety requires it, commission an independent structural integrity assessment by qualified experts, and release the report to the public in the interest of transparency and accountability.
“Motorists should remain vigilant and comply with any safety directives issued by the appropriate authorities until the bridge is certified safe.
“The people of Osun will not be deceived by ribbon-cutting ceremonies or political fanfare. Good governance is measured by quality, accountability, and the protection of human lives—not by media publicity.
Osun deserves competent leadership, prudent management of public resources, and infrastructure that stands the test of time. The lives of our people are too precious to be sacrificed on the altar of politics.”
Accord Party alleges sabotage
The state’s ruling party, Accord Party in a reaction alleged sabotage by the opposition, blaming the APC for the damage on the flyover.
The state chairman, Victor Akande, in a statement claimed it had received credible reports of a disturbing pattern of vandalism targeting public infrastructure across the state.
“These acts are not ordinary criminal activities but appear to be part of a calculated attempt by desperate elements in the opposition APC to undermine and discredit the achievements of the current administration ahead of the governorship election,” the statement reads.
Accord said the alleged acts were aimed at creating a false impression of government failure.
“These acts of sabotage are strongly condemned. Those responsible should note that public infrastructure belongs to the people of Osun, not any political party,” the statement added.
“The destruction of roads, public facilities, streetlights and other government assets is an attack on the collective interest of citizens and will not deter the governor from delivering dividends of democracy.”
“The Osun Accord has received credible reports of a disturbing pattern of vandalisation targeting public infrastructure delivered by the administration of Governor Ademola Adeleke. These acts are not ordinary criminal activities but appear to be part of a calculated attempt by desperate elements in the opposition APC to undermine and discredit the remarkable achievements of the current administration ahead of the forthcoming governorship election.
“Having failed to match the Governor’s impressive record of performance, these elements seem determined to destroy the very projects that are transforming communities across the state in order to create a false impression of government failure.
These acts of sabotage is strongly condemned in the strongest terms and those behind them should know that public infrastructure belongs to the people of Osun State, not to any political party.”
