Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has banned heavy goods vehicles from plying the Olaiya Bridge in Osogbo.

The directive, which empowers the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure to take action, was ordered for safety reasons arising from technical reports on the condition of the bridge.

This directive was contained in a statement issued by the spokesperson of the state governor, Olawale Rasheed, in Osogbo on Monday.

The statement said: “The governor, who chaired a security council meeting in Osogbo, said the decision became necessary to protect the bridge from possible collapse and avoid untoward occurrences arising from the continued passage of heavy trucks.

Describing the move as a preventive measure, Governor Adeleke said the ministry should erect barricades on the bridge to allow only cars and buses to ply on the road.

According to the statement: “As part of the implementation of the directive, the governor also directed the ministry to issue a travel advisory accompanied by radio jingles to create awareness among members of the public and the transportation ecosystem.

“The governor assured the public that the decision was taken to protect public and state assets while a long-term review of the technical condition of the bridge is conducted by the Ministry of Public Works and Infrastructure. “

Residents of the state capital are increasingly concerned about their safety amid the influx of heavy trucks plying the Gbongan-Ibadan road.

The immediate cause of this development is due to the dilapidated state of the Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin highway.

Trucks also access the Olaiya flyover, which many consider not strong enough to support their weight.