Traders and residents of the Ero Omo-Kilanko-Biada community in Ilorin South Local Government Area of Kwara State have lamented severe economic losses resulting from the deplorable condition of their access road, which has disrupted local business activities, restricted transportation, and exposed nearby residential structures to gully erosion.

Speaking to journalists on Wednesday in Ilorin, community members appealed to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for urgent intervention, warning that deep gullies caused by unchecked erosion have rendered portions of the road impassable to motor vehicles, commercial motorcyclists, and pedestrians.

They emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive road reconstruction alongside the installation of proper drainage channels to arrest further soil erosion, prevent structural damage to adjacent buildings, and restore access to the area.

A local businessman, Temitope Olayemi, stated that the deteriorating access road has severely restricted movement, making it increasingly difficult for customers and suppliers to reach commercial establishments, resulting in substantial financial losses for traders.

Similarly, a local trader, Tosin Araoye, explained that distributors of essential commodities, including sachet water, can no longer drive into the community. She noted that suppliers now offload goods along the main expressway, forcing traders to manually carry stock to their shops.

Commercial motorcyclists operating in the axis also voiced concern over the situation. One operator, Emmanuel Adeniyi, noted that riders are regularly forced to drop passengers far from their destinations, reducing daily earnings while imposing hardship on residents. Another operator, Femi Abodurin, warned that continued neglect could leave the community completely cut off during the next rainy season, noting that several car owners have been forced to park their vehicles outside the estate.

The Secretary of the Ero Omo-Kilanko-Biada Community Association, Saka Abdulkadir, urged the state government to extend ongoing infrastructure interventions to cover the connecting road network, highlighting that the corridor serves multiple residential neighborhoods.

The appeal comes following earlier assurances by the Kwara State Ministry of Works regarding infrastructure upgrades along the Kilanko and Gaa Akanbi-Danialu-University of Ilorin corridors, where state engineers have been assessing terrain requirements to finalize technical and drainage designs.