Ibadan-Ilorin new highway: Group appeals to FG to complete remaining 5km stretch in Ogbomoso axis
Yinka ADETUNJI
An advocacy group, Ogbomoso Development Initiative (ODI), has appealed to the federal government and the government of Oyo state to immediately complete the 5km stretch remaining in the ongoing Ibadan-Oyo-Ogbomoso-Ilorin new highway.
This is coming against the background of a new Federal Executive Council’s (FEC) directive to the Ministry of Works to henceforth prioritise ongoing road projects especially those that had reached at least 80% completion stage.
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According to the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umuahi, during a news conference Friday, “The Federal Executive Council has directed we should review the projects to availability of funds and make proposals to FEC. If such a project has attained about 80 per cent of completion, then we will make proposal to it for subsequent appropriation. When this money is made available, such project will be made a priority so that it will be completed. That is what we are going to do. The president has not stepped down any project.
“On the issue of new projects, if we have appropriation that has not completed, at least, one kilometer, we are not going to carry out such appropriation. That is what FEC is concerned about. We can’t have N500m on budget but procurement is supposed to be N50bn or N100bn and you go ahead to award such a project. We have been directed not to do so.”
Public relations officer of ODI, Benjamin Oyeleke, addressing the issue of the non-completion of the Ibadan-Ilorin new highway in a press statement he signed and made available to ogbomosoinsightonline.com, said the road construction had already taken over twenty years having been flagged off in the year 2001, and so urged the federal government to expedite action on it.
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Oyeleke stated the road is vital to the country’s socio-economic growth and development harping it is the major road connecting the southwest and northwest of the country.
He stressed the old road which is over 120 years old has seen its best years noting its dilapidated state, numerous sharp bends which he said had caused thousands of accidents leading to losses of lives and property, provoked the construction of the new four-lane highway.
“We were happy when the road project began years back but it is regrettable that it is still under construction. However, the good news is that it remains less than 10 kilometres, which incidentally falls within the Ogbomoso axis, in fact, in the western fringe of Ogbomoso metropolis,” he added.
Continuing, he remarked, “The road is in three sections, Ibadan – Oyo, Oyo – Ogbomoso and Ogbomoso – Ilorin. While the other two sections were completed over ten years ago and opened to traffic, sadly, the Ogbomoso – Oyo axis has dragged on interminably. But now it remains less than 10km, we appeal to the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to ensure its completion in view of its importance to the country.”
The group also urged Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, to “deploy his magic wand to get the road done and help users enjoy safer trips. We appeal to him to either put pressure on the federal government or execute the remaining section by committing state government’s funds the way he reconstructed the Oyo – Iseyin road, which is also a federal government road. The non-completion of that axis has necessitated travelling on the old road which is prone to accidents and so is often a nightmarish experience going through it.”
He similarly enjoined elected representatives and governments’ appointees from the state to “intervene and demonstrate their commitment to their communities by exerting their influence towards letting the road get governments’ attention in earnest. Its completion will alleviate commuters‘ nightmare, foster economic growth and development as well as promote tourism.”
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Oyeleke referring to Umahi’s submission that FEC now frowns at the predilection of politicians to put pressure on his ministry for award of road contracts in their constituencies even though there is no fund to execute such projects, wondered why lawmakers and politicians from this zone are not mounting pressure on the ministry of works for the completion of the road project.
He noted, “This is another opportunity. The federal government has made a policy statement that road projects that had reached 80 % completion would now be given priority as against new ones. Our people in government should seize this opportunity to hammer that there is a road project in their constituency that is less than 10km to achieve completion. But it is as if they have all been pursuing parochial goals rather than projects and programmes that can initiate developments in the community. We plead with them to see to the completion of this road, which is an important artery in Nigeria’s road network.”
The group lamented the suffering often imposed by the old road in the Ogbomoso metropolis. “There is often traffic snarl or standstill for hours within the Ogbomoso township on this old road we are talking about due to its bad state. You see trailers of various shapes and sizes lining up the road in a long windy stretch causing inconvenience on other commuters and often causing fatalities. If the new road is completed the trailers will take it leading to the de-congestion of the city centre. We pray that our plea would be taken,” it is stated.
