Oyo State government has warned against the use of burning of tire and other combustibles during protests on the highways as such weakens the road asphalt and reduce the lifespan of the road.
The Chairman, Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA), Hon. Kamil Akinlabi who said this at the weekend while briefing journalists at his Eleyele office, added that the society must look inward to change attitudes that are detrimental to its growth and sustenance of public facilities.
“Much as public protest is the right of the people, damaging public properties are not, there are many ways we can protest but burning tyres and other combustible materials on the road is bad, as the asphaltic laying gets weaken and the road gets spoiled.
“Other peaceful and non-destructive means can be used, let us stop burning on the road, not in this period that governments all over the world are looking for ways to ration funds for public utility, we have to know that,” he said.
He further hinted that the management of the agency would embark on visitation to the zonal offices in the State from Tuesday to see the state of roads and areas that would need intervention.
Akinlabi said the visitation would commence on Tuesday, 25th February, 2020 to Igbo-Ora, the headquarter of Ibarapa zone and Otu, at Itesiwaju local government, the headquarter of Oke-Ogun zone.
He added that Wednesday, 26th February, 2020 wouldl be the turn of Oyo, the headquarter of Oyo zone and the Ogbomoso zone.
He went on to state futher that the visitation would help the agency to have a first hand information and on the spot assessment of facilities in each of the four (4) zones with a view to improving on them.
“The management team of this agency will embark on visitation to our zonal operational offices on Tuesday, 25th February, 2020. The first port of call will be Igbo-Ora, which is the headquarter of Ibarapa zone, then we move to Otu, the headquarter of Oke-Ogun zone.
“Wednesday, 26th February, 2020 we will be going to Oyo, the headquarter of Oyo zone and Ogbomoso, the headquarter”
