The Osun Masterminds (TOM), a prominent civil society coalition in Osun State, has raised an alarm over the catastrophic decay of interstate highways, demanding immediate and aggressive intervention from the Federal Ministry of Works.
​During a press conference held on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the coalition’s headquarters in Osogbo, Osun State, the Executive Director of TOM, Prof. Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli, decried the severe infrastructure deficit crippling key transit routes across the country. ​
Prof. Oyedokun-Alli singled out critical transportation arteries connecting the South-West to the North, specifically emphasizing the deteriorating state of the Ekiti–Kogi–Lokoja–Abuja highway alongside the vital Ilorin–Jebba–Mokwa–Egbe corridors. He noted that these crucial routes have transformed into hazardous, near-impassable traps for motorists and commercial operators alike.
Massive craters, eroded asphalt, and uncompleted maintenance sections have drastically disrupted interstate transit, resulting in mounting economic losses, severe travel delays, and an alarming frequency of vehicular accidents. ​Beyond the physical decay, TOM warned of the heightened security threats facing stranded travelers.
The slow, crawl-paced traffic caused by damaged roadways provides armed gangs and kidnappers ideal opportunities to target commuters. ​Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Prof. Oyedokun-Alli stressed that these affected routes have become increasingly treacherous for motorists, adding that the persistent neglect of federal arteries hampers interstate commerce while exposing commuters to immense danger, frequent mechanical breakdowns, and violent crime.
​In its closing demand, the coalition urged the Federal Ministry of Works and relevant infrastructure agencies to immediately deploy emergency response teams for comprehensive rehabilitation work across the corridors, emphasizing that functional highway networks remain essential for national economic stability, traveler safety, and peaceful socio-political cohesion.
