By Adeyinka Adeniran
No doubt, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has made significant strides in road construction in Oyo State. The state government has completed 368.9 kilometers of roads in the last two years of Omituntun 2.0, according to Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure, and Transport, Mojeed Mogbonjubola.
Additionally, the state government has awarded 38 roads, equaling 800 kilometers across the state, with 458 kilometers ongoing.
Notable projects include the 110-kilometer Ibadan Circular Road, named after former Governor Rasidi Ladoja, and the Oyo-Iseyin Road project, which was commissioned in September 2023.
The governor has said his administration believes that the road construction projects will boost economic development, improve traffic flow, and increase the state’s attractiveness to investors.
Stakeholders said there is already an increase in real estate and hospitality industries in the state due to improved road constructions.
Overall, Governor Makinde’s administration has made significant progress in improving Oyo State’s road infrastructure, far surpassing the achievements of past administrations.
However, the attention major roads around the capital city got could not be said about the inner roads within the city.
Many residents are lamenting about the deplorable condition of roads, mostly within the purview of the local governments.
Although some of the affected roads including Adeoyo Roundabout to State Hospital, Arapaja Estate to 7UP Junction, State High Court junction to Oni and Sons Hospital, and Onisiniyan to Ojaoba and Iyaganku to Joyce B junction spur NTC among others in very deplorable state have gotten attention in the recent past, many local roads are still begging for attention.
The local roads, particularly linking streets and communities are crucial for residents, businesses, and government institutions, but their poor condition has led to increased vehicle maintenance costs and health issues for some residents.
Acknowledging the situation, the state government said it has begun addressing the issue with a recent approval of over N113 billion worth of road projects, including the asphaltic reconstruction of the Ojoo Interchange-IITA-Moniya Junction-Akinyele road at N63.6 billion and the dualization of the 6.2km Ajia Junction-Nigeria Air Force Base road at N17.1 billion.
Residents believe that the government is not doing enough to empower the local government to be able to replicate the road infrastructural situation across the major streets, particularly within residential areas and markets.
