The Federal Government has flagged off the reconstruction of the Osogbo–Akoda–Gbangan and Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan roads in Osun and Oyo states as part of efforts to improve transportation infrastructure and stimulate economic growth.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony in Osogbo on Thursday, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who represented President Bola Tinubu, said the projects underscored the administration’s commitment to revitalising critical infrastructure and enhancing connectivity across the country.
Oyetola noted that the roads, which were executed during his tenure as Governor of Osun State, would now be reconstructed using continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP), a technology expected to ensure greater durability and reduced maintenance costs.
According to him, the projects are designed to improve road safety, facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and other goods, create employment opportunities, and stimulate socio-economic development in the region.
He said the scope of work includes site clearance, removal of unsuitable materials, milling of the existing asphalt pavement, construction of a 100mm wet-crushed stone base, a 200mm cement-stabilised base course, and a 200mm continuously reinforced concrete pavement for both carriageways and shoulders.
The presidential representative urged the contractors to deliver the projects in accordance with the agreed engineering specifications and timelines.
Also speaking, the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, described the projects as part of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at delivering critical infrastructure across the federation.
Umahi said the roads would strengthen regional connectivity, reduce travel time and transportation costs, improve security, facilitate commerce, and support agricultural and industrial activities.
Responding to concerns over government borrowing, the minister said the loans were strategic investments targeted at reviving and completing major infrastructure projects that had remained abandoned for years.
He assured residents of Osun and Oyo states that the projects would be completed within the contractual period and appealed to host communities, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to cooperate with the contractors to ensure smooth execution.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works, Rafiu Adeladan, described the flag-off as another milestone in the administration’s infrastructure drive, noting that the roads would serve as vital socio-economic corridors linking communities and boosting economic activities.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, and the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Works, Hon. Akin Alabi, pledged the continued support of the National Assembly through adequate funding and effective legislative oversight.
Both lawmakers commended President Tinubu for prioritising infrastructure development and praised the Ministry of Works for the progress recorded on road projects across the country.
The contractors handling the projects, Trucrete Solutions Limited and Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, assured the Federal Government that the projects would be delivered in line with contractual specifications and timelines.
Traditional rulers, including the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, and the Alapomu of Apomu, Oba Kayode Adenekan Afolabi, welcomed the reconstruction of the roads, describing the projects as transformative for the region.
The ceremony was attended by the governors of Kogi and Edo states, members of the National Assembly, senior government officials, traditional rulers, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
The projects form part of the Federal Government’s broader infrastructure development programme aimed at promoting national economic growth, regional integration, and improved connectivity.
