By Abdul-Yekin Alli
The road rehabilitation, construction and reconstruction efforts of the Ogun State government in the last two years have been nothing short of humongous. But it is in the nature of criticism, particularly by individuals intent on political gain, to dwell on the work yet undone and excite passions among the populace. Between January and June this year alone, the Dapo Abiodun government has built 54 road roads across the state: 29 in Ogun Central, 10 in Ogun West 10 and 15 in Ogun East. It expended a total of N7.389bn on the projects, including Raypower, Navy-Osi-Ikola roads in Ado-Odo/Ota local government; the Fajol-Ajegunle-America Junction-Alogi road and American Junction-Unity Estate road in Abeokuta South and Odeda local government areas; the Ejirin-Mobalufon- Oluwalogbon road, and the Ilaro-Owode road in Yewa South local government area. Shall we speak of the Joju road, Lantoro-Elite-Idi-Aba road, NNPC Mega Station road, Somorin-Kemta-Idi Aba Road, Imasayi-Igan Okoto-Ayetoro road and the Papalanto-Ilaro road? You see, these are not the Ota-Lagos and Ota-Idiroko roads, and critics would never let any crisis go to waste.
The Ota-Lagos road truly cuts a picture of long abandonment; it has been a nightmare to motorists. But there is a difference between federal and state roads. And, what is more, the governor has been working extremely hard behind the scenes to get the Federal Government cracking on it. To be sure, he has been rehabilitating both state and federal roads. He recently ordered the contractor handling the Mowe-Ofada road reconstruction in Obafemi-Owode area of the state, a project abandoned since 2013, back to site. The 42-kilometre Sagamu-Siun-Abeokuta road, which the Amosun administration awarded at a total cost of N60 billion but later abandoned, is being reconstructed with two layers (binding and wearing course) at a cost less than N20 billion, with street lighting. The Lafenwa-Olorunda-Aiyetoro road, abandoned in 2012, is back to life. The Sagamu/Abeokuta road is at 80 per cent completion stage. And what about the 10-lane, 19-kilometre Ijebu-Ode/Epe road linking Ogun with Lagos State, one of the best ever roads constructed in the annals of Nigeria, a tribute to his commitment to road revolution?
