It was excitement galore coupled with commendation recently as Oyo state government unveiled several roads kinking many communities. BAYO AGBOOLA reports.
Oyo state under the administration of Gov Seyi Makinde on Thursday, May 30 recorded another major achievement in its area of boosting infrastructural development in the state with the commissioning of the 76.67 Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso road now named Alao-Akala Memorial Highway with the governor mincing no words in vowing that his administration would continue to reduce infrastructure deficit in order to move state into prosperity.
President Bola Tinubu, while speaking during the commissioning of the road which attracted prominent traditional rulers from across the state, commended Gov Makinde for being a collaborative partner with the federal government in the area of building road infrastructure to connect communities and open up the state to commerce and economic opportunities. The presidential said the move would lift the people out of poverty and that federal government would support the state to achieve its full potential as an agriculture hub in the country, especially in the agro-industrial sector.
Tinubu’ commendation through Shettima
Represented by the vice-president, Senator Kashim Shettima, President Tinubu stressed that posterity would be kind to Governor Makinde for building such a huge legacy project that connects communities in the state, opens the state to economic opportunities and also links the state to a major geopolitical zone of the country, describing the project as an exemplary one for every state and every Nigerian committed to the development of the nation.
“In governance, we must know that it is the convergence of many parts that form a cohesive whole. A nation can only thrive when each state builds essential infrastructure to facilitate our daily lives. So, I want to appreciate Governor Makinde, on behalf of the president, for not only being a collaborative partner but for also erecting such a capital project. I thank the people of Oyo state for their warm reception and it is not coming as a surprise. I know Oyo state is not only a land of hospitality but a pacesetter for the entire nation,” he said.
President Tinubu added that, “Today, we gather to celebrate a tradition of excellence for which Oyo state is known. Governor Makinde has exemplified that well-constructed networks of road serves as the gateway to the economy of the nation. The 76.67km Alao Akala Memorial Highway which we are here to commission connects communities within the state and also serves as a vital link to another geo-political zone in our nation. This project would activate the economy of the surroundings by linking producers to markets, workers to job opportunities and students to schools. I salute the governor for his dedication to leaving behind a legacy project. My brother, posterity would be kind to you. I promise that President Tinubu would support you for the agricultural transformation, especially in the agro-industrial hub.”
Makinde explains rationale
Governor Makinde while speaking disclosed that his drive to build roads that interconnect all the five zones of the state is energised by his belief that where roads go, development follows, stressing that his administration’s focus to spread development all around the state has been yielding positive results, as the revenues accruing to the state no longer come from one source.
“Where road goes, development follows. This is the mantra that has continued to support our continuous drive to build road infrastructure that interconnects all zones of our dear state. Back in 2021, we started with the commissioning of the 65km Moniya-Iseyin road, then, we moved to Oyo. With the approval of the federal government, we completed and commissioned the 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin road. We realised that there was no road connecting Ogbomoso zone to Oke-Ogun zone. So, we envisioned this project, which we are delivering to you today.
He stated further, “Well, we are still working because we are going to link Ibarapa zone to Ibadan. So, we are working currently on the 48km Ido-Eruwa road and we will deliver within the next eight months. Our focus has always been to ensure that we spread development all around. Gone are the days when all our IGR would come from only one zone. “Yesterday night, I slept at Fasola, in the Oyo zone. So, we have a big development there at Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub which hosts several large and medium-scale international and national businesses.
“We are going to commence something similar in Eruwa and Ijaiye, which would happen this year. So, we would continue to reduce our infrastructural deficit and move more of our people from poverty to prosperity. As we celebrate five years of ‘Omituntun’ in Oyo state, our solemn pledge is to continue to do everything within our power to bring development to our people.”
The governor then used the opportunity to invite local and foreign investors to the state promising that his government would listen to them and support them with necessary policies and infrastructure to make their businesses succeed.
Works commissioner too
The state commissioner for public works, infrastructure and transport, Prof Dahud Kehinde Shangodoyin in his remarks said the project was an incontestable economic impetus for the sustainable development of the state and that the road provides direct link between Oke Ogun and Ogbomoso and also gives easy access to the LAUTECH College of Agriculture and Renewable Natural Resources. According to him, the successful completion has brought to fruition the vision of the governor to interconnect all the zones without leaving any zone behind. He added that Gov Makinde’s administration has fixed over 297.29 kilometres of roads in five years, while many others are ongoing.
“The cross-section of the roadway consists of 7.3m carriageway, 1.5m hard shoulders on both sides of the carriageway, 1.Om x 1.0m open reinforced concrete lined drain at the township and settlement areas while earth drains were provided at the edges of the roadway in sections without township/ settlement. The major features of the road include site clearing, earthworks (cut-to-fill, borrow to fill, cut to spoil and removal of unsuitable materials), 1.0m x 1.0m open reinforced concrete drainage, box culverts of various sizes, retaining walls, embankment protection, sub-soil drainage and filter beds; 4-spans of 15m each bridge over River Ogun measuring 60m as the total span, 3-spans of 15m each bridge over River Oba measuring 45m as the total span and the pavement works inclusive of 150mm thick laterite sub-base, 150mm thick laterite base on the shoulders, 150mm crushed stone base on the carriageway, 30mm compacted thickness of asphaltic concrete wearing course on the shoulder.
“Also 50mm compacted thickness of asphaltic concrete binder course on 7.3m carriageway and 40mm compacted thickness of asphaltic concrete wearing course on chains through linking of our vast arable lands to the city centres and consequently leveraging on the state’s comparative advantage in agriculture by way of improved movement of farm produce from the farms to markets.”
The managing directors of KOPEK and Craneburg Constructions Company Limited, the project contractors, Mr Issam Faghail and Mr Gilbert Sassine, expressed joy in the accomplishments of the project said to have commenced on a virgin land as there was no previous road construction on the land.
The chairperson, Association of Professional Engineers, Engr Raheemah Abiola Adabanija while speaking said the body on its own carried out integrity test on the quality and standard of the road project and expressed its satisfaction with the job done by Governor Makinde while highlighting the socio-economic significance and impact of the project to the state. He reaffirmed the professional body’s desire to continue to work together for the common goal of societal advancement.
Going by the applause surrounding the road project which stands as the first-ever direct road linking Ogbomosho to the Oke Ogun area of Oyo state, it would no doubt improve food production and supply to other parts of the state as well as other parts of the country in general.
Source: https://blueprint.ng/applause-as-oyo-opens-more-communities-through-road-construction/
