Floodwaters have taken over parts of the Okolowo–Alapa Road linking Kwara and Oyo states, leaving motorists stranded and disrupting movement along the major route.
The flooding has renewed concerns over a temporary bridge installed by the Kwara State Government after the collapse of the Moro Bridge.
SaharaReporters, which visited the affected area, reported that floodwater had spread across sections of the highway, making movement difficult for residents, traders and motorists.
Residents said the temporary structure, popularly referred to as a “container bridge”, has not addressed the recurring flooding problem. They claimed that even relatively heavy rainfall was enough to cause water to rise over the road and interrupt traffic.
One resident said the community had initially welcomed the government’s intervention after the collapse of the old bridge but argued that the temporary arrangement had failed to provide a lasting solution.
Another resident said commuters were sometimes forced to wait for hours for floodwaters to recede before they could continue their journeys.
The road serves as an important link between communities in Kwara and northern parts of Oyo State, including Igbeti and Kishi, while also connecting to routes leading towards the Nigeria-Benin Republic border.
The corridor is regularly used by trailers, tankers, trucks transporting agricultural produce and other heavy-duty vehicles, increasing concerns about the ability of the temporary structure to withstand sustained traffic and heavy rainfall.
Residents had previously expressed concerns about the temporary bridge, warning that rising water levels during the peak of the rainy season could put the structure under additional pressure.
The latest flooding has therefore renewed calls for a more permanent solution to the transportation challenges caused by the collapse of the Moro Bridge.
For communities and businesses that depend on the road, prolonged flooding could further disrupt transportation and the movement of goods between the two states.
The Kwara State Government had introduced the temporary alternative as an emergency measure following the bridge collapse, while a more durable solution is expected to address the long-term transportation needs of the corridor.
