Residents of Ajebo Road Housing Estate, Kemta, Abeokuta, are in deep sorrow following the tragic death of Professor Oladipo Ademuyiwa, a respected scholar at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta.
The professor, who specialized in biochemical toxicology and was in his early sixties, was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver on the recently rehabilitated Kemta-Somorin Road on Sunday.
Ademuyiwa had just stepped out of a cab and was attempting to cross the road near the Prof Wole Soyinka axis when a speeding vehicle struck him. The driver fled the scene, leaving him critically injured.
Reacting to the incident, Chairman of the Ajebo Road Housing Estate Community Development Association, Dr. Ayo Ajasa, expressed deep frustration over what he described as a preventable tragedy.
In a statement on Tuesday, he criticized the Ogun State Government for ignoring repeated requests to implement speed control measures in the area.
“This unfortunate incident, which occurred on Sunday, February 16, 2025, once again highlights the urgent need for government intervention to prevent further tragedies,” Ajasa stated.
He further condemned the government’s selective approach to road safety, pointing out that while speed bumps were installed on the Ilugun section of the road, similar safety measures had been repeatedly denied to residents of Ajebo Road Housing Estate.
“It is disheartening that despite our numerous appeals to the Ogun State Government and relevant agencies, no effort has been made to install speed breakers and other necessary safety measures. The government did not hesitate to install speed bumps on the Ilugun end of the road but has continually ignored our pleas to safeguard lives in Ajebo Road Housing Estate,” he said.
Describing the late professor’s death as a profound loss to both the community and the academic world, Ajasa called for immediate action to prevent further tragedies.
He urged the government to install speed breakers, lorry barriers, and visible traffic signage to deter reckless driving. Additionally, he emphasized the need for stricter law enforcement to curb excessive speeding in the estate.
“It is unacceptable that a community of law-abiding citizens must endure repeated accidents, near-fatal encounters, and now the death of an esteemed professor, simply due to government inaction.
“Another accident occurred within 24 hours of this tragic incident, proving that this road remains a death trap,” he added.
Residents continue to mourn the loss of Professor Ademuyiwa while renewing their demands for urgent safety interventions to prevent further casualties on the road.
