‘We Depend on This Stream to Survive’: Inside Oyo Community’s Struggle for Water, Roads

Basic amenities such as clean water, accessible roads and electricity remain critical indicators of the quality of governance at the grassroots level. Yet, for some communities, these necessities continue to exist as daily struggles rather than guaranteed services.

In this report, Ayooluwa Ayobami takes readers through his visit to Oko-Iyanrin, in the Oloko-Nla, Akingbade axis of Amuloko, a community in the Ona-Ara Local Government Area of Oyo State, where residents shared their experiences with water scarcity, difficult road networks and other infrastructure challenges.

For many communities, access to clean and reliable water is a basic expectation of everyday life. But for residents of this community in Oyo State, water remains a daily struggle.

Here, a stream has become a lifeline.

It is where residents turn to for bathing, washing clothes and other domestic activities. For some, they are satisfied drinking this water because it is their source of survival.

During a visit to the community on Saturday, July 18, 2026, TVC News Online observed the daily realities faced by residents living in the area.

Residents explained that the rocky nature of the environment has made it difficult for many households to access underground water through wells or boreholes. While a few homes reportedly have private boreholes, many residents continue to depend on the stream.

A resident of the community, Oluwakemi Adeniran, told TVC News Online that only a small number of households had succeeded in drilling boreholes because of the challenges posed by the rocky terrain.

She said in Yoruba, “Some people drink from this stream, although it’s mainly for bathing and washing clothes and also making bricks. Other people also love to have boreholes but were hindered by rocks.

“The government has not tried too. That’s the circular road over there; the stream sometimes overflows whenever there’s rain. And as soon as it’s overfilled, people won’t be able to cross over the stream.”

According to her, the difficulty in accessing underground water has left many residents with limited options.

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Another resident, Kabirat Animashaun (not her real name), expressed concern about the impact of rainfall on movement around the stream area.

Speaking in Yoruba, she said, “The water usually flows above the concrete water ring by the stream. Sometimes it comes close to the farm beside the house. We heavily depend on sachet water to drink for survival. Although a few people drink the water from the stream. We’re new in the area, though, so we can’t say if the local council governments have been here before. We’re also living in darkness. This area has not enjoyed power supply for a very long time.”

-A stream serving multiple purposes-

Beyond domestic use, TVC News Online observed that the same stream relied upon by residents was also being used by some motorcycle operators to wash their bikes.

One of the motorcyclists who spoke with our correspondent said he used the stream because he believed its flowing nature made it suitable.

“It’s a flowing river; that’s why I’m here. I don’t see anything wrong in it.”

The motorcyclist also highlighted another challenge confronting residents, the absence of an accessible bridge across the stream.

He said: “A bridge is needed here, for easy vehicular access. The bridge pillar you can see was erected by the community, not the government. And the work has stopped because this is how far they can go financially.”

He, however, disclosed that an NGO had recently provided a borehole in the community.

Checks by journalists showed that the borehole was yet to be commissioned and was not in use at the time of the visit.

-Beyond water: Amuloko’s difficult roads-

While water remains a major concern for residents, the journey into the community also exposed another challenge: poor road infrastructure.

The trip from Olorunsogo Under Bridge through Amuloko to Oloko-Nla – Akingbade, which was expected to be a short drive, became a difficult experience due to the condition of the roads.

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The road sections appeared heavily degraded, with major portions making movement difficult for vehicles.

TVC News Online witnessed on different occasions how residents struggled to cross the road. Some of them had to remove their shoes while some motorcyclists passed through the floating water.

From deep potholes to unmotorable sections, the roads appeared to have taken a toll on commuters and businesses operating in the area. Some residents who saw the vehicle moving through the community expressed surprise, questioning why anyone would attempt the journey with the state of the roads.

A resident who spoke with TVC News’ journalist on condition of anonymity said the road had remained in poor condition for a long time, despite repeated expectations of government intervention.

In Yoruba, the resident said, “This road has been like this since. Many promises have been made, but we’ve not seen the fulfilment of any. We keep begging our government every day to pity us and remember our community. It has become a death trap for many. Accidents are prone to happen due to the bad roads.”

Observations showed that many residents rely heavily on motorcycles for transportation, as the road conditions appear to discourage frequent use of private vehicles.

The poor road network has also affected commercial activities, with some shops operating with limited goods, while residents believe easier access could improve business activities in the area.

A call for attention before promises become another election slogan

For residents of Amuloko and surrounding communities, access to water, electricity, roads and other basic amenities remains central to their daily survival.

With another election season approaching, promises of improved infrastructure are expected to dominate political conversations.

However, residents say what they need most is not just promises but visible improvements that will change their everyday realities.

The concerns raised by residents highlight broader questions around service delivery and the responsibility of local authorities closest to the people.

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