The people of Igbotele village in Odo-Otin Local Government Area of Osun State have appealed to the state government to provide them with social amenities to improve improve their quality of life and cultivate more food for the populace.
Some of the villagers, most of whom are seasoned farmers, said lack of basic amenities were discouraging farmers from settling in local communities.
In their separate interviews with The Point, the villagers said basic amenities were not a luxury, but necessity, calling for improved infrastructure necessary for their wellbeing and the continued prosperity of their community and the state at large especially in the area of food security.
They urged the state government to provide essential infrastructure such as good schools, roads, hospitals, water and electricity for them.
Speaking, Muritala Yusuf, who is the Imam of the village, commended the Osun State Community and Social Development Agency for constructing borehole for them, urging for more amenities in the community.
“It took the intervention of the Osun State Community and Social Development Agency to bring some relief to Igbotele village by constructing a borehole to tackle the persistent water scarcity.
“This long-awaited project has been the lifeline for the villagers who have struggled for years without access to potable water. The borehole now provides the much-needed water for daily use, offering a glimpse of hope in our community which is still yearning for more comprehensive development and infrastructure,” he said.
A housewife, Zulaykoh Jamiu, lamented that despite the importance of Igbotele to the local economy, the village was deprived of essential social amenities.
She said, “The lack of potable water makes life challenging for us in this village, hindering our ability to thrive and sustain our contribution to the state’s agricultural output.”
For a farmer, Temitope Mustafa, the state government should provide additional support to encourage farmers to remain in the village and continue their farming activities.
“With better resources, we believe more farmers will stay in the village, ensuring that our crucial contributions to the state’s food security can continue uninterrupted,” he stated.
