FG Flags Off N6bn Oyo/Ogbomoso Expressway

Ademola Babalola in Ibadan

The Federal Government on Monday formally flagged off the construction of the N6 billion Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway, with a promise to ensure its completion during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

The reactivation of the express road, facilitated by Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, representing Oyo Central senatorial district was flagged off by the Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, at Elete, Atiba Local Government, Oyo.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya, in his speech said the road is one of the cardinal projects and would be completed within the three years of President Buhari’s administration.

Senator Gaya then called on “the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) to speed up and finish the project within the speculated time. I want you to work extra hard to achieve this because this is a very important road to Oyo state people and Nigeria.

“We will also put the old road into repair before the completion of this road.”

Senator Gaya however frowned at the contractor handling Oyo/Ibadan axis of the expressway for what he described as “sad story experience” while coming for the flag-off ceremony of the road construction.

He then publicly summoned the contractor to the Senate in Abuja to explain why the road is in bad state few years after completion.

Gaya said “despite the fact that Senator Sunmonu was on the neck of the Senate and the committee to ensure that the road is accommodated in the budget, we however had a sad story on our way here. The Oyo axis of the road is bad now. I wonder why a newly constructed road would be in that shape? We’re calling on the company to come to the senate and Ministry of Works to come and explain to us why that road is in that state.

“There is no point that road should be bad again. We plan to have goods roads to link the South from Lagos to Oyo and Kano, including other parts of the Northern side of country.