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From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
President Bola Tinubu yesterday flagged off the construction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan and Osogbo-Akoda-Gbongan roads, directing contractors to mobilise to site immediately and complete the projects within 24 months.
Represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the flag-off ceremony held at Aje International Market in Osogbo, the President described the approximately 82-kilometre Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road as being in a deplorable condition.
“The road originates from the Dele Yes-Sir Roundabout here in Osogbo, traverses major agricultural belts in Osun and Oyo states, and is the shortest route between Osogbo and Ibadan. Major towns and communities along the corridor include Osogbo, Ara, Awo, Ede, Telemu, Iwo, Laagun and Ibadan.” Tinubu said the contract was awarded to Messrs Peculiar Concerns Limited at a cost of N114,854,477,607.93, with a completion period of 24 months.
He also said the Gbongan-Osogbo Road project covers about 44 kilometres of dual carriageway, bringing the total project length to 88 kilometres. The road begins at the Old Garage Roundabout in Osogbo, passes through Owode-Ede, Akoda-Ede, Sekona, Oogi and Odeomu, and terminates at Gbongan on the Ife-Ibadan Expressway, a strategic corridor linking Osogbo with Ikirun, Offa and Ilorin in Kwara State.
He explained that the project would upgrade a failed 20-kilometre single carriageway into a dual carriageway using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP).
“Additionally, a 15.55-kilometre section from Osogbo to the Akoda-Ede Junction and an 8.6-kilometre section towards Gbongan, which are already dualised but in poor condition, will be reconstructed using rigid pavement.
“The contract was awarded to Messrs Trucrete Solutions Limited in the sum of N101,806,515,825.09, with a completion period of 24 months,” he said.
According to the President, the completed roads will feature solar-powered streetlights, modern drainage systems, landscaping, strategically located lay-bys and CCTV cameras to enhance security. He also urged the contractors to engage local youths during the execution of the projects.
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, defended the Federal Government’s infrastructure loans, saying the investments would generate significant multiplier effects across the economy.
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He said major highway projects, including the rehabilitation of the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha Road and the long-delayed dualisation of the Ilesha-Akure-Owo-Benin Road, are being executed with rigid pavement technology and are at different stages of completion.
Highlighting other flagship projects, Umahi said: “The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is progressing steadily. Section 1 in Lagos is substantially completed, Section 2 in Ogun has reached 80 per cent completion, Sections 3A and 3B in Akwa Ibom and Cross River are at 20 per cent, Sections 4A and 4B in Akwa Ibom have reached five per cent, while Section 5 has been awarded and work has commenced.
“On the Sokoto-Badagry Highway, Section 1 in Sokoto has attained 40 per cent completion, Section 2 in Kebbi is at 60 per cent, Section 3 in Ogun has reached 18 per cent, while work is progressing on the newly awarded Section 4 in Oyo. Accelerated work has also been ordered on the remaining sections.
“The Trans-Sahara Trade Route, stretching from Calabar through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi and Nasarawa to Abuja, is also advancing. Section 1 in Ebonyi has reached 15 per cent completion, Section 2 in Benue has been mobilised, while engineering designs for the remaining sections are ongoing.”
Traditional rulers, including the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, and the Olufi of Gbongan, Oba Adetoyese Oyeniyi, commended President Tinubu for approving the projects and urged residents to support the APC governorship candidate, Bola Oyebamiji, in the August 15 governorship election.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Ajibola Basiru, said the Tinubu administration has initiated more than 800 road projects covering over 5,000 kilometres nationwide.
He added that monthly distributable allocations to states had increased from N586 billion in April 2023 to N2.5 trillion in June this year, arguing that there was no justification for the poor condition of more than 19 roads in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government Areas.
The APC governorship candidate in Osun, Bola Oyebamiji, urged party supporters to sustain their mobilisation efforts until the Independent National Electoral Commission signals the commencement of the official campaign period.
Governors Monday Okpebholo of Edo State and Usman Ododo of Kogi State also appealed to Osun voters to reciprocate the Federal Government’s development efforts by supporting the APC candidate in the forthcoming governorship election.
