Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday kicked off construction of the 76.67 kilometres Ogbomoso/Fapote/Iseyin Road. He said the project is of great economic importance to both Oyo and Kwara States.
He was joined by his Kwara State counterpart AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.
The road connects Ogbomoso, less than 30 minutes from Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, to Iseyin, in the Oke Ogun zone of Oyo State, which also shares a boundary with Kwara.
A statement by Makinde’s Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, quoted Governor AbdulRazaq as thanking Governor AbdulRazaq for thinking outside the box. He noted that the project is an economic road and a greenfield project, adding that it would impact the economy of Oyo State and benefit Kwara State.
He said: “This road will connect Ogbomoso to Iseyin, bring comfort to and reduce travel time for commuters travelling further South to Abeokuta.
“It also represents a shortcut for those coming from Northern Nigeria, including Kwara, travelling to Iseyin or headed to Igboora or Abeokuta. In all of these, you are creating huge economic values along this axis. You are also saving lives because the ever-busy Oyo/Ogbomoso road will be decongested…”
Makinde said the road will facilitate trade between the two states and ensure easy movement of agricultural produce.
He described the project as a proof of his administration’s reliance on data and logic to build infrastructure that targets the economy. He added that upon completion, the project will be named after former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala.
