Changing Outlook of Ibadan Inner Roads

Kemi Olaitan writes that residents of Ibadan, Oyo State, are in for a new lease of life as the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde is fixing roads within the city

For many Nigerians, most governors if not all elected for second term in the country do not care to deliver dividends of democracy to the people because they believe that they do not need the people again. However, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has continued to change this narrative as since he was sworn in for a second term on May 29, 2023, he has not stopped to deliver on his promises to the people of Ibadan and the entire state as a whole.

But to many people in the pace setter state this is however unexpected as Makinde during his inauguration had assured of moving the State from the level that it found itself as a result of misrule of past administrations to one that would be respected among the comity of states in the country in terms of provisions of necessary infrastructures such as good roads and housing estates.

Thus, in order to continue to endear himself to the people, Makinde last December and barely two weeks after he promised to kick-start the rehabilitation and reconstruction of internal roads in Ibadan, had approved contracts for the construction and rehabilitation of inner roads within Ibadan metropolis totaling 84.75km.

The State Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Daud Shangodoyin, while addressing journalists after the State Executive Council Meeting, disclosed that scores of the internal roads, would be handled by Messrs KOPEK, RATCON Construction Company Ltd, Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd, Craneburg Construction Company and the Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA).

He said, “The brief is in two parts – Lot 1 and Lot 2, which have a cumulative of 12 roads. Lot 1, which is 70.45km, consists of 10 roads and the Council approved the award to Messrs KOPEC Ltd at a contract sum of N24.8 billion for 12 months.

“Lot 2 of this road is awarded to RATCON Construction Company. It has 12 roads of 14.30km at a contract sum of N1.88bn for a duration of six months. The summary is that we approved Lot 1 and Lot 2 of 12 roads with a total of 84.75km for Ibadan feeder roads.

“Lot 1 for Ibadan feeder roads has 10 roads on that axis; Oshuntokun – Housing Corporation – Elewure – Awolowo junction and it is 2.99km. The second road on that Lot 1 is Aare junction-Ashi, along Bodija road, which is 3.48km; Bodija-Oju-Irin-Ashi-Basorun with a spur to Ojoo, which is 3.45km; reconstruction of U.I (Preboye junction)-Bodija market- Secretariat road-Beere roundabout dual carriageway, 15.53km; Government House-NTA junction-Ikolaba-JAMB office-Officers Mess-Federal Secretariat-Custom office dual carriageway, 6.13km; Queens Cinema-Dugbe-Sango-Trans Amusement park junction and 11.74km dual carriage way.

“Others are the construction of Molete (under bridge)-Oke Ado-Oke Bola-Queens Cinema-Dugbe dual carriage way, 9.3km; Iyaganku-7th Day Adventist Church-Oke Bola junction-Olubadan stadium junction-Vale College-NUJ PRESS Centre junction with spur to Total filling station-Radio Nigeria-Kobiowu Estate-Akinyemi Junction-Ring Road, 3.85km; dualisation of Mile 10-Ring road-Mobil-Challenge car park, 8.5km; General Gas junction-Kolapo Ishola-Iyana Church with spur to Dizzengorf, 5.48km. The total length of Lot 1 is 70.45km.

“For Lot 2, we have two roads, which are the reconstruction of Bus Stop-Gate-Oje-Beere-Ojaaba-Molete (under bridge) dual carriageway, 10.8km and Oke Adu-Ode Aje- Aremo-Orita Aperin, 3.5km. The total length of Lot 2 is 14.3km.

“The roads OYSROMA will work on include U.I junction to Agbowo linking Ojoo–Iwo road expressway with a spur to Preboye’s world, which is 2.3km; Sango-Eleyele road, which is 10.6km; Zion Plaza, Olusoji Avenue linking Alao Akala expressway, which is 1.25km; a culvert at Eleyele/Ologuneru road junction; Eleyele roundabout, Water Corporation, Eruwa Garage road, which is 0.63km.”

And less than two months after the roads were approved for rehabilitation and reconstruction, the contractors and OYSROMA have moved to site turning most of the areas to rehabilitation and reconstruction arenas with residents showering encomiums on Makinde for counting them worthy of having the dividends of democracy.

The roads already witnessing reconstruction or rehabilitation include Beere-Oja’ba, Iyaganku-NUJ Road, Moshood Abiola Way-Ring Road, Akala Express 12.5km, 7.5km Old Ife Road-Onipepeye Underpass with spur to Airport-Adegbayi, Idi Ape-Civic Centre-Agodi Junction Improvement, Gate Junction Improvement and 5.48 km General Gas Junction-Kolapo Ishola GRA-Iyana Church with a spur to Dizengoff Junction Road, Iyana Church, Ibadan.

Residents and commuters along these areas while relaying how excited they were seeing contractor or OYSROMA commencing work on the roads, said they would continue to be grateful to the governor for hearkening to the cry of the people to fix the deplorable roads within the state capital.

A resident of Oluyole Estate within the city, Mrs. Bola Adeyemo, commended Makinde for rehabilitating the Moshood Abiola Way-Ring Road, stating that it has brought relief to those plying the road as major potholes have been fixed making it more motorable.

According to her, “we have to commend Governor Makinde for what he has done to rehabilitate or reconstruct roads within Ibadan, the state capital. Doing this has not only make it easier for commuters to ply the roads that have been completed such as the Moshood Abiola Way-Ring Road, but it has also brought development to the city.”

Speaking in the same vein, a commercial driver plying Mokola to Iwo Road , Wasiu Olabisi, lamented that the deplorable condition of the Idi Ape-Civic Centre-Agodi Junction often caused traffic gridlock, noting that the rehabilitation has brought great relief to commuters.

According to him, “I want to appreciate the present government under the leadership of Governor Seyi Makinde because we have never had it so good. The deplorable state of the road affected us greatly but today we are happy that we are enjoying a motorable road with the rehabilitation.”

The Special Adviser, Media to the governor, Mr. Sulaimon Olanrewaju, while reacting to criticism that the reconstruction and rehabilitation are coming late, said Governor Makinde had been strategic and deliberate with his handling of infrastructure improvement in the state, stating that he is guided by data, science and logic.

He said, “By his conduct and utterances, Governor Seyi Makinde has repeatedly shown that he is fair to all. He is unmoved by primordial sentiments, but guided by justice and fairness, which are the underpinning principles on which his administration stands.”