Students of Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ago-Aare, in Oyo State have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently install speed breakers and other traffic-calming measures on the busy Ago-Aare–Saki road, citing growing safety concerns over speeding vehicles and heavy-duty trucks plying the route.

The appeal, which has gained traction on social media, was conveyed in a video seen by our correspondent on Wednesday, where a group of students raised alarm over what they described as a “critical safety threat” at the entrance of their school.

The video, posted on X (formerly Twitter) by the handle Oyo M Esi Oro (@oyomesioro), featured four students—three boys and a girl—speaking on behalf of the school’s management, staff, and student body.

In the footage, one of the students, identified as Ayantoye Emmanuel, expressed appreciation to the Federal Government for ongoing rehabilitation works on the road, but stressed that urgent safety interventions were needed to prevent accidents.

“Good day, everyone. On behalf of the management, staff, and students of Baptist Secondary Grammar School, Ago-Aare, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, led by Emeka Agbasi, for the ongoing road maintenance along the Ago-Aare to Saki road,” Emmanuel said.

He also acknowledged the Oyo State Government’s role in infrastructure development, adding, “We also acknowledge the proactive leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde for his commitment to infrastructure in Oyo State.”

However, the student noted that despite the improvements, the location of the school directly along the highway had exposed both students and staff to significant danger.

“However, we face a critical challenge. Our school gate is directly located on this busy highway. Every day, our staff and students must cross this road, which is currently subjected to high-speed traffic,” he said.

The students warned that without immediate intervention, the situation could lead to fatal accidents, particularly given the increasing volume of vehicles using the corridor.

“We currently appeal to the government to prioritise the installation of speed breakers, pedestrian crossings, and official school warning signs at the front of our school gate. These simple measures will prevent accidents and ensure the safety of our students and staff,” Emmanuel added.

“We trust in your dedication to public welfare and look forward to your intervention. Thank you.”

Our correspondent, while watching the video, observed a consistent movement of high-speed vehicles plying the road even as the students made the appeal.

The Ago-Aare–Saki road is a critical inter-town route linking several communities in Oyo State and serving as a transit corridor for commercial and agricultural haulage vehicles moving between Oyo and neighbouring states.

The road has, in recent years, been in poor condition, prompting repeated calls from residents and commuters for federal intervention. The ongoing maintenance by the Federal Road Maintenance Agency is expected to ease transportation challenges and boost economic activities in the area.

However, improved road conditions often come with increased vehicle speeds, a development that experts say can heighten accident risks in communities where schools, markets, and residential areas are located close to highways.

Efforts by our correspondent to obtain reactions from the Federal Ministry of Works on the students’ appeal were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report, as officials, including the Director, Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, at the ministry had yet to respond to enquiries. (The PUNCH)

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