President Bola Tinubu has inaugurated the construction of the 82-kilometre Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road and the reconstruction of the 44-kilometre Gbongan-Osogbo Road in Osun State, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
Represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, at the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, the President directed the contractors handling the projects to ensure high-quality work and complete them within the stipulated 24-month timeframe.
Tinubu said the Federal Government would closely monitor every stage of the projects to guarantee transparency, quality and value for money, noting that the roads would boost transportation, strengthen economic activities and improve connectivity between communities in Osun and neighbouring states.
He also urged the contractors to employ local youths during construction to create jobs and equip them with practical skills, adding that host communities should benefit directly from the projects.
The 44-kilometre Gbongan-Osogbo Road reconstruction, awarded to Messrs Trucrete Solutions Limited, is valued at ₦101.8 billion. The project includes the rehabilitation of damaged sections and reconstruction of deteriorated dual carriageway portions linking Owode-Ede, Akoda-Ede, Sekona, Oogi, Ode-Omu and Gbongan.
The 82-kilometre Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road project, awarded to Messrs Peculiar Concerns Limited at a cost of ₦114.85 billion, is expected to provide a shorter route connecting Osun and Oyo states while improving access to major agricultural communities.
Tinubu highlighted other ongoing Federal Government road projects in the South-West, including the rehabilitation of the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha Road and the dualisation of the Ilesha-Akure-Owo-Benin Highway, saying work is progressing steadily.
He added that Section One of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is nearing completion, while construction continues in Ogun, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. According to him, various sections of the Sokoto-Badagry Superhighway have recorded between 18 and 60 per cent completion, while parts of the Trans-Sahara trade corridor linking Calabar to Abuja have entered the construction phase, with other segments at advanced planning and mobilisation stages.
Among dignitaries present at the event were Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate in Osun State, Bola Oyebamiji, and other senior government officials.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, declared his support for President Tinubu’s administration and pledged to back his re-election bid in 2027.
Governor Okpebholo and Umahi also appealed to Osun residents to support the APC in the forthcoming governorship election, describing it as a show of appreciation for the Federal Government’s investment in infrastructure across the state.
