Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, on Thursday, described the newly reconstructed 13.15km Ada-Igbajo road as fulfillment of another campaign promise.
Oyetola had declared in his inaugural address that his administration recognizes the importance of intra and inter-city roads to facilitate movement of goods and people, and will continue to muster resources to build strategic roads across the State.
The Ada-Igbajo road was part of the 54.3km span of township roads across the three Senatorial Districts of the State that Oyetola approved for construction, reconstruction or rehabilitation, after about three decades of their last reconstruction or actual construction.
Other township roads include Akindeko-Awosuru link road, via Adejumo street, with a spur to Oremeji, Akinlade Street, Adewale Street, with a loop to WAEC road; Rehabilitation/complete overlay of 25.8km Army Barrack (Ede)-Ara-Ejigbo township road; Rehabilitation and complete overlay of 8.10km Moro-Yakoyo-Ipetumodu-Asipa-Ife/Ibadan Expressway Junction road; and Rehabilitation/complete overlay of 4.38km Ereja Roundabout-Ereguru-Isaare-Oke Oye-Sabo (Irojo)-Ilesa/Akure Expressway Junction.
Speaking at the commissioning of the 13.15km Ada-Igbajo road, Oyetola restated his administration’s commitment to unleashing road construction on the State for its socioeconomic transformation.
He said his administration is irrevocably resolved to engage in meaningful infrastructure and economic endeavours to achieve economic transformation and equitable development of major towns and villages in Osun.
The Ada-Igbajo road was first constructed in the old Western Nigeria by the then Premier, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the mid-50s and re-constructed in 1987-1988 by the military government of the Old Oyo State
Oyetola urged residents and indigenes of the community to take advantage of the road to improve on meaningful agricultural, trading and entrepreneurial efforts for personal and socioeconomic development.
“I rejoice with the monarchs and people of Ada and Igbajo and their environs on the inauguration of this important road. I urge you to take advantage of this road to improve on meaningful agricultural, trading and entrepreneurial efforts for personal and socioeconomic development.
“The inauguration of this road is significant in many respects. One, it is a deserved relief to the people of Igbajo and Ada who have waited with baited breath and dashed hopes since its first construction by the old Western Nigeria by the then Premier, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, in the mid-50s and its re-construction in 1987-1988 by the military government of the Old Oyo State. Two, as a road that is central to the tourism and hospitality potential of our State in view of its stretches to Igbajo, the home of the Great Kiriji war site, and the ultra-modern Miccom Golf Hotels and Resort, Ada, this inauguration is a welcome addition to the socioeconomic development of Osun, Igbajo and Ada. Three, it is another proof of commitment to our avowed resolve to unleash road construction on the state for its socio-economic transformation.
“As I mentioned during the flag-off of this road last year, every abandoned project diminishes our people and compromises the desired economic development and transformation of our State. As you are all aware, in addition to undertaking massive road construction and rehabilitation, we have, as a government, embarked on the completion of all the uncompleted roads by our predecessor, including Federal Roads.
“Engagement in meaningful infrastructure and economic endeavours to achieve the economic transformation and equitable development of our major towns and villages is our irrevocable resolve as an Administration.
“We shall continue to embark on these initiatives in line with our Development Agenda, the challenges of dearth of resources and the Coronavirus pandemic notwithstanding”, Oyetola said.
The historical event was witnessed by the Deputy Governor, Mr Benedict Alabi, Speaker House of Assembly, Rt Hon Timothy Owoeye, represented by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Femi Popoola, Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Surajudeen Ajibola Basiru, members of the State Executive Council, party Chieftains and faithfuls led by the State APC Chairman , Prince Gboyega Famodun , a royal from Igbajo town.
