Traditional rulers, residents praise Ogun

Dayo Ayeyemi, Lagos

TRADITIONAL rulers, community leaders, dons and students could not hold back their joy during the week as they expressed gratitude to the Ogun State Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel for multiple roads projects implemented since the inception of his administration.

The people, while expressing their joy over the newly completed 60 kilometers road projects in Ijebu Igbo and Ikija Ijebu North East Local Government Area of the stated, pointed out that socio-ecomomic lives have been improved upon by the projects. In addition to the newly constructed roads, it is on record that the State government through the state’s Road Management Agency (OGROMA) has constructed/rehabilitated over 520 roads in the 236 wards of the state.

Traditional rulers led by the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, dignitaries residents and students could not contain their joy over the construction of the main access road to the Polytechnic Ijebu Igbo, a 1.7Km road project constructed through the state’s Road Management Agency (OGROMA. The traditional monarch of Ikija Ijebu, His Royal Highness, Oba Anthony Kayode Alakija, thanked the State government and OGROMA, saying the agency has been doing a wonderful job and that people were happy and grateful for that.

The students of the Polytechnic Ijebu Igbo were not left out in this euphoria has they all chanted songs in praise of the governor for the kind gesture. The students equally requested for a bus to ease their transportation problem a request which the Governor granted and promised will be delivered next week.]

One of the students, Kehinde Oladunjoye while appreciating the efforts of the government reiterated the fact that the road was almost impassable months back, thanking OGROMA for doing a good job. In his speech, the Rector of the polytechnic, Professor Tayo Odumosu thanked the state government and OGROMA, saying they are wonderful. He said “I must make mention of the Ogun State Road Management Agency OGROMA. You are wonderful, wonderful in the sense that you performed marvelously and have proved a point that indigenous engineers are capable of competing favourably with their counterparts any where in the world. To the CEO OGROMA, Engr.

Kehinde Osikoya, you deserve a thank you gift.” The road was thereafter named “Otunba Gbenga Daniel Boulevard”. Commissioner for Water Resources and Rural Development, Akogun Kola Onadipe,also gave an insight into the model of rural roads which the state government has tagged “legacy roads”. According to him, the legacy roads are modeled along the roads constructed by the administration of Chief Obafemi Awolowo in the former Western Region. The commissioner said, “Its aim is to provide infrastructures in the rural areas and help especially the farming populace get their farm produce to the markets on good roads.The legacy roads are surface dressed with bitumen and granite which makes it very solid and durable.” “It is an advanced improvement on laterite roads and is not prone to erosion. This type of roads is also very appropriate in areas where there are less traffic and its less expensive, unlike asphalt roads. It will also make a greater number of communities benefit from it,” he said. The Chairman of Ijebu East local government, Mr. Tunde Oladunjoye stated that OGROMA has not only performed creditably well but has been able to save a lot money for the government and has also become a standard in road construction in Nigeria. The roads include the Odumati road, road leading to Owu Ijebu and Ogbere Oritamobi road and Poluga road Ijebu Ode, on which construction works have commenced immediately.

Currently, the state government has embarked on the construction of such roads in the following locations and most of them are nearing completion. They are: Arepo village main access road (3km), Wasimi-Ogbere-Oluwaji-Gbangba-Loti road (14km), Oke Erinja-Erinja-Ilobi-Eredo-(10km), Aiyepe-Sagamu-Likosi-Simawa (10.5km), Idofe-Iyanran-Imope-Aparaki-Ijebu Igbo-Odokolaba-Atan (16km) and Area J4 main access road (15km).