By Kehinde Gbadeyanka
Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has been actively involved in rehabilitating roads in Ibadan in recent times. The Oyo State Government commenced the major road rehabilitation projects in key areas of Ibadan with the aim to improve transportation and the socio-economics of the state capital.
From Yemetu to Bodija to UI Junction to Beere-Molete-Popoyemoja Roads, from Oke Ado to Oke Bola-Dugbe-Sango, the rehabilitations in Ibadan metropolis have been quite impressive. Beyond rhetoric, the state government under the leadership of Gov. Makinde has been working tirelessly to improve the road network in the state.
The administration began the improvement of road networks in its first term of office, connecting the zones of the state through long road projects such as the Iseyin-Moniya Road to the Oyo-Iseyin Road. Similar efforts on Iseyin-Ogbomoso Road and the ongoing Ido-Eruwa Road made the administration stand out as one with a great master plan to develop the state’s infrastructure and thereby improve its economy.
Gov. Seyi Makinde’s Oyo State renewal initiative is a comprehensive development plan aimed at transforming Oyo State’s infrastructure, economy and social services as a whole. These initiatives including the 65 km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road, the 34.85 km Oyo-Iseyin Road, and the 76.67 km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road as well as the rehabilitation of the 7.8km Gate-Old Ife Road-Onipepeye Underbridge-Airport Road and the 12.5km Theophilus Akinyele Way have culminated into the growing of the state’s economy. Between 2019 and today, the state’s Internally Generated Revenue has grown by leaps and bounds, leading to the state becoming buoyant and able to further expand its economy and make life more meaningful for its residents.
These road projects have significantly improved transportation and connectivity in the state, attracting direct foreign investments and contributing towards supporting the state’s agribusiness development drive, with the building of Agribusiness Industrial Hubs in Fasola and the ongoing project in Akufo serving as warehouses for different companies with multi-million dollars investments.
Additionally, Governor Makinde has been able to attract investors to the state, signing a multi-million-dollar deal with Africorp, a multinational company with interests in agro-industries, mining, education, and more. This was in addition to signing an MoU with Shell Nigeria Gas to building a gas infrastructure in the state.
But while the governor concentrated efforts on building roads that inter-connected the state in his first term of office, as soon as he began his second term of office, he kick-started the process of renewing Ibadan through some of the road projects, including the rehabilitation and asphaltic improvements of roads in Bodija, Beere, Yemetu, Agodi and Ikolaba. Roads such as the ones connecting Mokola, Dugbe, Adamasingba, Iyaganku, Oke-Bola, Molete, Oke-Ado, Ibadan Grammar School, General Gas, Kudeti, Orita-Aperin all within the Ibadan metropolis are also benefiting from the government’s intervention.
Particularly, the fixing of the Sango-Osuntokun-Awolowo-Secretariat Road has been hailed massively by hundreds of residents and users of the roads. For such a strategic road in the city centre to be in a deplorable state as it earlier was, it was much of an eyesore. But a drive on that axis today would reveal that Governor Makinde, indeed, listens to his people and does know what they go through daily on that axis.
In what would be the first batch of the projects, Governor Makinde commissioned 38.48km of the rehabilitated inner roads in Ibadan, demonstrating his administration’s commitment to expanding the state’s economy through infrastructure development. A sizeable number of the Batch 2 of the roads has also since been completed with kerb painting and street markings.
On January 17, 2025, the Oyo State Government also began rehabilitating four major roads in Ibadan, as part of its efforts to enhance transportation and connectivity in the city. The Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency (OYSROMA) announced the new road rehabilitations in Ibadan and other parts of the state. According to the agency’s chairman, the agency has begun desilting works on drainage systems to ensure proper water flow and prevent damage to the roads.
He noted that that the effort is to prevent flooding from heavy downpour, maintain water quality which will aid in removing pollutants and sediments that can contaminate waterways and reduce the risk of damage to drainage infrastructure such as pipes and culverts.
“With all these, desilting done on the drainage systems along the roads are functioning properly and will surely allow rainwater runoff, thereby reducing the risk of flooding and damage the roads.
“Some of the local governments that will benefit from these new repairs include Oyo East Local, Oyo West, Ogo-Oluwa and Oriire Local Government Areas. These rehabilitations will bring about improvement to connectivity and facilitate economic growth, enhance transportation and reduce travel time, maintenance of roads to support agricultural activities and boost food production, upgrading of roads to improve access to markets, schools, and healthcare facilities. These new road rehabilitations are part of OYSROMA’s efforts to ensure even distribution of road maintenance across the state,” the OYSROMA chairman added.
For those who have monitored the rehabilitation works in Ibadan closely, the quality of the roads being done by the governor has been impressive. Many residents have been commending the efforts. The Oyo State citizenry have continued to give accolades to the governor for the good things he has been doing in the area of road infrastructure. Young and old have continued to extol the governor’s commitment to ensuring that roads are properly done to stand the test of time, with standard engineering designs and adequate provision for drainages. The people have noted that Governor Makinde’s road rehabilitation efforts demonstrate a clear commitment to his promise to improve the state’s infrastructure and enhance the quality of life for residents.
His government’s significant investments on education as demonstrated in the building of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) in Iseyin and the mass recruitment of over 17,000 teaching and non-teaching staff for public primary and secondary schools have also been attracting commendations from Nigerians, even outside of Oyo State.
Apparently, Gov. Makinde has, indeed, changed governance narrative in Oyo State, particularly in the area of urban and rural development. His administration’s efforts have restored the state’s lost glory, revamped its image, and repositioned it for greatness. His vision to make Oyo State the fastest-growing economy in Nigeria has been on course and the people know this much, hence their praises and continuous love for the governor.
But beyond the joys in the hearts of thousands of residents and the commendations behind his back, who will tell him what the people are saying? Who will tell the governor in the words of popular comedian and skit maker, Mr Macaroni, ‘ooin, you are doing well?’ Like the Yoruba saying that yin ni yin ni, ki eni le se omiran, who will tell the governor that residents of the state love his efforts in rebuilding Ibadan and his policies of merit and excellence in recruitments and other areas? Who will tell the governor that the people of Oyo State see that he has been doing a fantastic job in renewing Ibadan and Oyo State, and that his efforts are definitely worth celebrating? Who will tell him?
Gbadeyanka writes from Ibadan.
