The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, was joined by the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to flag off the construction of the 76.67-kilometre Ogbomoso-Fapote-Iseyin Road, in Oyo State, South-West Nigeria.
The project, which is said to be of economic importance to both Oyo and Kwara states, connects Ogbomoso, which is less than 30 minutes from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to Iseyin, a city in the Oke Ogun Zone of Oyo State, which also shares boundary with Kwara State.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Makinde said the road had vital economic importance to both Oyo and Kwara states, as it would facilitate trade between the two states and ensure easy movement of agricultural produce, noting that the road would also ensure easy commute between the main campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and the Faculty established in Iseyin by his administration.
He restated the commitment of his administration to developing all zones of Oyo State, noting that the government would continue to construct roads in its drive to engineer a modern Oyo State and declared that upon completion, the project would be named after the late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, in recognition of his contribution to the growth and development of Oyo State.
“As we always say, every project we embark on here in Oyo State, we have data and logic behind it and it will target our economy. So, for those asking, this is the logic behind this road construction; we are facilitating both intra-city and inter-state movements. It bears repeating that where roads go, development follows. And so, in our quest to continue in the work of engineering a modern Oyo State, we will continue executing road projects.”
The Oyo State Commissioner for Works, Public Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin, disclosed that the Iseyin-Ogbomoso road would complete another triangle between the newly completed Ibadan- Moniya-Iseyin Road, the ongoing reconstruction of Oyo-Iseyin Road and the on-going Federal A1 Oyo-Ogbomoso Road Project.
He said the need for the construction of the road was borne out of Governor Makinde’s commitment to improving the socio-economic activities of the citizenry, stating that for timely delivery of the project, which has been stipulated for 13 months, the project was split into two concurrent lots and awarded to M/S Kopek Construction Limited and M/S Craneburg Construction Company Limited.
Similarly, the member representing Iseyin/Kajola/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Sina Peller, who described Makinde as a performing governor, stated that he was at the event to appreciate the governor on behalf of the people of Iseyin and Ogbomoso, noting that Nigeria is at a turning point where religion, politics and ethnicity must not be placed above the public interest.
According to Governor AbdulRazaq, the road is a real “Economic road” that is of immense benefit to the people
“I congratulate Your Excellency for this important road project which seeks to connect Ogbomoso and Iseyin. I feel honoured to have been invited to be part of this history-making project that brings comfort to and reduces travel time for your people who want to travel further south to Abeokuta. This is what we call thinking out of the box
“Similarly, it represents a shortcut for those coming from northern Nigeria, including Kwara, who are travelling to Iseyin or headed to Igboora or Abeokuta. In all of these, you are creating huge economic values along this axis.
“You are also saving lives because the ever-busy Oyo Ogbomoso road will be decongested.”
AbdulRazaq said the commitment of the Oyo State government to the road projects aligns with his administration’s strategic investments to open up the agrarian parts of Kwara for economic growth.
“Currently, we are constructing the first section of the 64m Kishi-Kaiama road, which links part of Kwara to Oyo State. To its northwest, we are fixing the 33km Ilesha-Gwanara road. Down south, we are linking the Osi-Obbo road where Ekiti State empties into Kwara, among several other road projects connecting our hinterlands to market,” the Governor added.
“It is the right step if we truly desire growth. If a huge percentage of our people are farmers, it is a no-brainer that agribusiness value chains will only thrive when we connect our vast arable lands to the city centre through good roads or rail.”
He commended his Oyo State counterpart for embarking on such a lengthy road project and for naming the facility after the late Governor Christopher Alao Akala, describing Akala as a catalyst for the modern transformation of Ogbomoso town which deserved to be so honoured.
“As your neighbours, Kwara will always collaborate with Your Excellency on all fronts to improve the lots of our people. I urge that our bipartisan efforts to jointly secure our border towns and make them safe for socioeconomic development should continue,” he added.
Dignitaries at the event included: a former Military Administrator of Oyo and Ogun states, Major-General Oladayo Popoola; the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao; the Onpetu of Ijeru, Oba Sunday Oyediran; Chief Imam of Ogbomosoland, Sheik Talihat Yusuff Ayilara; Oyo State Deputy Governor, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Secretary to the State Governor, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Segun Ogunwuyi.
Others are; the Chairman, Oyo State Advisory Council Committee, Senator Hosea Agboola; former Chief of Staff to the governor and senatorial candidate of the PDP in Oyo Central, Chief Bisi Ilaka and former Chief of Staff to the late former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, Dr Saka Balogun, among others.
PIAK
