The Ondo State Government has promised not to abandon ongoing road projects across the three Senatorial districts in the state.
Mr Saka Yusuf-Ogunleye, the state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, made the pledge on Wednesday during a visit to the palace of Regent Abike Akosile, the Olojoda of Oda Town in Akure South Local Government.
Yusuf-Ogunleye was at the palace to brief the regent on plans of the state government to dualise the ever busy Oda Road linking the ancient town to the state and federal secretariats in Akure.
According to Yusuf-Ogunleye, dualisation of the road is in continuation of Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s commitment to make state roads conform to world standards.
The commissioner said that the government was deeply worried about the deplorable state of the roads and the hardship being experienced by residents in the area and commuters.
“There were hundreds of requests from people who wanted government to attend to their roads, but the governor has, in his magnanimity, approved dualisation of Oda Road, among others that are receiving attention in the state.
“The process of demolishing shanties and other illegal structures has began with marking of the structures for demolition by the state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development,” he said.
The commissioner, who said that majority of the state civil servants resided in the area, called for sacrifice from those who have shops, kiosks and containers on the road sides to remove them to allow the contractors commence work.
“We call on the residents to cooperate with government and the contractors to ensure timely completion of the project.
“The government of Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will not play politics with the life of the people and he is a promise keeper. He will not abandon any road project under construction across the state,” he said.
Responding, the Regent, Oba Abike Akosile, thanked the governor for his intervention on some critically failed roads in the state among which is Oda Road.
Oba Akosile said the incessant traffic congestion on the road was as result of rapid expansion of the town as well as other communities in the area such as Ijigba, Aaye and Ilekun, among others.
According to the regent, the town has for long made provision for the dualisation as there were enough challenges from the main road to the residential buildings
She promised that the residents would cooperate with the contractors while the project lasted, noting that Oda community would remain grateful to Akeredolu for the good gesture.
Mr Oluwole Ige, a community leader in the area, said Oda town had been a good source of internally generated revenue to the state since the establishment of Cocoa Board by Chief Obafeni Awolowo in 1954.
He thanked the state governor for his plan to decongest the the only road leading to the town from Akure through dualisation.
