Ogbomoso, Oyo left out again as Makinde govt approves over N113bn for roads, tree planting projects

Ogbomoso, Oyo left out again as Makinde govt approves over N113bn for roads, tree planting projects

Khalid ABRAHAM

The Oyo state government Tuesday approved another batch of road projects to the tune of over N113billion, to be funded from the N300billion loan recently approved by the House of Assembly.

The approvals were given at the weekly State Executive Council meeting at the Exco Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan, Oyo state, chaired by the Acting Governor Barrister Bayo Lawal.

While majority project is slated for Ibadan the state capital including planting of trees, painting of kerbs major cities like Ogbomoso and Oyo had none awarded to them despite the people of the areas groaning under the yoke of dilapidated roads.

Briefing the press shortly after the meeting, the Commissioner for Works and Public Transport, Mojeed Mogbonjubola said the new approvals covers both new and ongoing projects across various parts of the state.

He gave the approved road projects and the cost to include the: Asphaltic Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of 13.6km Ojoo Interchange-IITA-Moniya Junction Akinyele Interchange with Spurs to New Oyo Expressway, Ibadan at a cost of N63,611,154,690.82K

Others are: Continuity of Thermoplastic road marking, kerbs painting and limited patching on state roads in Ibadan metropolis through direct labour intervention of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to the tune of N444,796,631.50. The first tranche, according to the Commissioner covers from SDP- All Motors and Airport Road with its adjoining road.

He further stated that the dualisation of 6.2km Ajia Junction (Ibadan/Ife Interchange) to Nigeria Air Force Base Base Road was also approved at a cost of N17,187,255,757.07k.

Also, the approved project include: reconstruction and rehabilitation of Okaka Junction – Otu Igbojaye – KAP Village Road (30km) and Construction of Bridges over Otu and Ofiki rivers at a cost of N26,482,664,312.33k

Additionally, the expansion of scope of work on the reconstruction/rehabilitation of Apete – Awotan -Akufo Road (12km) and rigid pavement construction of Akufo Farm Settlement Road (2.2km) at a cost of N1,935,629,520.32K was approved by the Council.

The Asphaltic construction of Isaba-Ogundoyin Road, Eruwa (0.75km) and Lanlate Garage Junction – Local Government Junction – Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic Oke Ola Junction Road, Eruwa (1.90km) was also approved to a tune of N4,146,068,573.56K.

The government also approved the planting of economic trees along both sides of 32km Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja Circular Road (Phase 1) for a cost of N108, 044, 103.50K.

Mogbonjubola also disclosed that the Council at the meeting also approved the sum of N110million for the camping and hosting of the Under-20 Female National Football Team in preparation for the Women’s World Cup Qualifying match between Nigeria and Rwanda in Ibadan, Oyo State.

He however assured that the approved projects would be completed within the next 12 to 18 months to help enhance socio-economic investment of the state.

Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, while reiterating the state commitment to improving endearing legacies, said the 35,000 tree seedlings have been funded to be planted around the Tech-U Junction-Badeku Area of first segment of the Ibadan Circular Road to help increase oxygenation and environmental beauty on the road.

Speaking on the recently approved N300bn loan which is raising dust, especially from the opposition APC, the Commissioner said not a single “fresh loan” but rather comprises two components with a part to be used to refinance an existing loan facility, aiming to replace an older, more expensive loan with a new facility on better terms, thereby reducing the state’s repayment burden.

He said, the other part is to finance some of the the newly approved road projects amongst others.

Meanwhile stakeholders in Ogbomoso and Oyo have raised eyebrows noting that in the six years of Governor Seyi Makinde Ibadan has received the lion share of projects with other zones getting paltry attention.