The Oyo State Road Traffic Management Authority has commenced the replacement of stolen manhole covers with durable concrete covers at strategic locations across Ibadan, in a move aimed at safeguarding lives and preventing avoidable accidents.

The intervention, carried out on Tuesday, August 11, 2026, in the Apata area of Ibadan, was supervised by the Chairman of OYRTMA, Major Adesagba Adekoya (retd.), as part of efforts to address the dangers posed by open manholes and damaged sections of roads across the metropolis.

These were conveyed in a statement released by the Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, on Tuesday and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Speaking during the exercise, Major Adekoya said the intervention was part of the agency’s corporate social responsibility, stressing that OYRTMA’s primary concern was to safeguard the lives of motorists, pedestrians, Okada riders and other commuters.

“Uncovered manholes constitute serious hazards to road users, particularly at night and during rainfall,” he said, adding that the dangerous spot along Apata Road had reportedly contributed to accidents and exposed commuters to significant risks.

“The decision to replace the stolen metal cover with a concrete alternative will provide a more durable solution while reducing the likelihood of vandalism and further theft,” Major Adekoya said.

He appealed to residents to desist from vandalising public infrastructure, noting that the removal of manhole covers does not only damage government property but also puts the lives of innocent road users at risk.

Additionally, he urged members of the public to promptly report cases of vandalism, uncovered manholes, dangerous potholes and other road hazards to the appropriate authorities for immediate attention.

Major Adekoya further assured residents that OYRTMA would sustain efforts to identify and address traffic-related hazards while working with relevant government agencies and stakeholders to create safer road environments across the state.

The Area Commander, Oyo Police Force, represented by ASP Okphor Kingsley, commended the OYRTMA management for the intervention, noting that the initiative would contribute significantly to preventing accidents and protecting lives.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Okada Riders Association, BCJ, Unit 3, Apata, Ibadan, Mr Oluwadamilare Ale, appreciated OYRTMA for the timely intervention, noting that several lives had reportedly been lost in accidents associated with the dangerous spot.

Ale said the intervention had brought relief to residents, commercial motorcyclists and other road users who had been exposed to danger while navigating the affected section of the road.