FUOYE Students Protest at FERMA Office Over Dangerous Road Conditions, Demand Immediate Action

Students of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE), on Monday, stormed the Ado Ekiti office of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to demand urgent repairs to the Ifaki–Oye–Ikole Road, which has been the site of several fatal accidents. The protesters, holding placards and chanting slogans, gave FERMA and the Federal Government a 48-hour ultimatum to begin road repairs, threatening to block the road if action is not taken.

The protest, led by the FUOYE Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Mary Abiodun, was in response to the series of fatal accidents that have claimed the lives of over 10 students in recent months. Among the victims was a recent graduate who tragically lost his life just last week.

In her address, Abiodun expressed the students' frustration over the poor state of the road, which has become a major safety hazard for students, staff, and the local community. She condemned FERMA’s inaction, highlighting the continuous fatalities despite multiple calls for repairs. "We can no longer endure the brutal loss of our students due to improper road maintenance. The Oye–Ikole Road has become a daily death trap," Abiodun said.

The protestors carried placards with messages like “FUOYE students’ lives matter,” “Repair Oye-Ikole federal road now,” and “Enough is enough.” They also called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene, with one placard reading, “President Tinubu, save our students’ lives.”

The Oye–Ikole Road, a critical route connecting Ekiti State to other southwestern states, including Oyo, Osun, and Ondo, has been heavily trafficked by large vehicles, including petroleum tankers and 18-wheel trucks. Despite its importance, the road has remained in disrepair for an extended period, leading to constant accidents and considerable hardship for commuters.

In response to the protest, Simon Adeniyi, FERMA’s Federal Road Maintenance Engineer, offered an apology for the ongoing suffering and confirmed that the Federal Government had awarded a contract for the road’s repair. He assured the students that work would soon begin, emphasizing that the road would be reconstructed with concrete, not asphalt, and that palliative measures would be implemented in the interim.

Adeniyi stated, "The contractor is expected to resume work shortly. There are also palliative works that will begin soon, as per the plans shared by the Federal Controller of Works."

As the protest ended, students remained resolute in their demand for immediate action to prevent further loss of lives on the hazardous road. The ultimatum remains in place, with students vowing to take further action if their calls for repairs are ignored.