Oyo generates N4.9bn, to begin rural road construction

Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has announced that the state government achieved N4.9bn in revenue and is set to commence construction projects on rural roads.

Makinde revealed plans for the construction of 1,000km of rural roads to facilitate farming activities and the transportation of agricultural produce from rural areas to urban centres.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media to Oyo State Governor, Sulaimon Olanrewaju on Thursday, Makinde said these farm roads are part of the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, with procurement completed and mobilisation to sites expected in the coming weeks.

Additionally, Makinde has authorised the 33 Local Government Areas to grade 30 kilometres of road each.

Addressing a special plenary sitting at the Oyo State House of Assembly Complex in Ibadan, the state capital on Thursday, Makinde outlined his administration’s approach to road construction, emphasizing connectivity across the state’s zones as a priority.

He stated, “Our strategy is straightforward: prioritize inter-zone connectivity to address 50 per cent of our transportation challenges. Subsequently, we will focus on improving internal roads.

“Of course, now we have started with Ibadan’s inner roads. We also have the RAAMP under which 1,000km of rural farm roads are going to be constructed and I think we are almost done with the procurement process and we should see mobilisation to sites soon.

“Also, I have already given a nod for the implementation of about 30 kilometres of road per local government. They should go ahead and do it, as we have given the nod. The money is sitting in the account of each local government area.”

The governor, who appreciated members of the House of Assembly and the people of Oyo State for their support for the administration and contributions to the growth of the state’s economy, said “the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state increased from N4.2bn in 2023 to N4.95bn in the first quarter of 2024.”

Makinde added that the policies and projects of his administration in the last five years have been geared towards restoring the dignity and pride of Oyo State.

He gave the assurance that there would continue to be a cordial relationship among the three arms of government to ensure that all zones of the state feel the impact of good governance.

The governor gave an account of his administration’s achievements across the four service-point agenda of the government, including education, health, security and expansion of the state’s economy through infrastructure development, agribusiness, tourism and solid mineral development.

He further explained that his administration has been able to rejuvenate the economy of the state through the implementation of the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery, which was introduced to cushion the effect of subsidy removal on residents of the state.

“From accelerated development to sustainable development, we have always believed in taking a completely different approach to the economic development of our dear State. This is why when fuel subsidies and the peg on the dollar were removed, while other States were busy distributing palliatives, we were thinking of short, medium, and long-term solutions.

“We came up with SAfER – Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery. The key words are sustainable actions. SAfER has various, including a food relief package, transport subsidy, food security measures, provision of health insurance, and support for small and micro enterprises and civil servants,” he said.

In the infrastructure sector, Makinde said, “This administration has successfully connected all zones of the state through the 65 km Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road, the 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin Road and the 76.67km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road named Adebayo Alao-Akala Memorial Highway.

“The administration also delivered the 12.5km Challenge-Odo Ona Elewe-Elebu-Apata Road Dualisation named after Chief Theophilus Akinyele; the dualisation of the 8.2km Agodi Gate-Old Ife Road-Adegbayi Road, including an underpass at Onipepeye area, while it is currently reconstructing the 48km Ido-Eruwa Road to link Ibadan and Ibarapa Zones, among other road projects.

“The real impact of the road project is that the state is fast becoming a regional agribusiness industrial hub, with the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub located on the Oyo-Iseyin Road, hosting agri-industries such as FrieslandCampina WAMCO with 200 hectares of dairy production; Milkin Barn Agro Services Ltd with 150 hectares for maize cultivation and dairy production; IITA platform Generative and GOSEED Vegetative Ltd with 100 hectares for cassava value chain development, among other companies.”

Makinde also reiterated his administration’s commitment to building institutions that will guarantee the well-being and continued prosperity of the state, saying his government would be defined by these institutions.

He solicited for more support and collective responsibility to solve various challenges facing the state, noting that the government cannot do it alone.

Earlier, the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, said the Assembly has, in the last year, worked tirelessly to review and pass important legislation, debated critical issues, and represented their constituents with dedication.

He commended the lawmakers for their high level of commitment and patriotism to the welfare of the people of Oyo State and their collaboration with the Executive Arm of Government in its quest to transform and re-engineer the state.

According to Ogundoyin, all the achievements recorded by the House within the last year were due to the unflinching support and cooperation of Governor Makinde, who according to him, “has taken good governance to a higher level of quality, impact and effectiveness.”

The event had in attendance the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barr. Bayo Lawal; PDP Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; as well as former Deputy Governors of Oyo State, Engr. Hamid Gbadamosi and Alhaji Hazeem Gbolarumi among other dignitaries.