By Ishaya Ibrahim
Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, has announced a massive roads rehabilitation and reconstruction in the state less than 48 hours after netizens carpet his administration for presiding over a state with the worst road network in Nigeria.
For over two days, netizens shared videos and photographs of dilapidated roads across the state, while calling out the governor for ‘sleeping on the job.’
But in what appears to be a reaction to citizens social media attack against his government, Abiodun announced that the state government would begin the rehabilitation of hundreds of roads.
A statement on the X handle of the state government reads: “Succour is coming the way of motorists and residents of Ogun State as the Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration has embarked on massive rehabilitation and reconstruction of many roads across the state.
“The rehabilitation, according to the Commissioner for Works, Engr Ade Akinsanya, will be priotised, based on fund availability and the economic viability of those roads.
“He said that 120 roads, spread across the 20 local governments in the State, were submitted by stakeholders.
“Engr Akinsanya said the move was in line with the avowed commitment of the Dapo Abiodun-led administration to make Ogun more attractive to both local and foreign investors.
“He noted that to make the exercise have the desired impact on the people, the governor mandated stakeholders, including royal fathers, lawmakers both state and federal, local government chairmen, community leaders, religious leaders, among others to submit critical roads that required immediate attention in their domain.
“Engr Akinsanya said rehabilitation works have commenced on some of the roads, while contractors will move to the remaining ones soon.
“Engr Akinsanya said Governor Abiodun has also secured the collaboration of the Federal Government for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of an additional 14 roads.
“He noted that the roads to be jointly rehabilitated with the cooperation of the Federal Ministry of Works, include Laderin-Train Station (Phase 1), (ongoing); Adesanolu road, Mowe (ongoing); Liberty road, Oru Ijebu (ongoing); Babcock road via Ilisan market road; Ayegbami road, Iperu; Safetedo Street, Iperu (ongoing); Odo-Egbe Junction/Ereko/Ondo Road Junction (ongoing); Major Thompson Road, Sagamu (ongoing); Methodist Church, Iperu; Awokoya Street, Ijebu Ode; Kanga Lagos-Ilese road, Lots 1 (ongoing), Lots11, 111 amongst others.”