I am not really excited about the federal government announcement of the approval for the reconstruction of Iseyin Okeho Iganna road. I am rather worried about the news.
Apart from the fact that out of all the projects approved in that meeting, only Iseyin Okeho Iganna road is without a budget and name of the contractor, we have also gotten similar approvals in the past with nothing much to show for it.
In 2016, the federal government approved the reconstruction of Iseyin Okeho road. In 2020, Buhari’s administration announced the approval of N6billion naira for the reconstruction of Iseyin Okeho road and in 2022, Raji Fasola, the then Minister of Works came to Okeho and declared that the federal government needs additional N4billion to complete Okeho Iseyin road.
The federal governments are not known to be smart about road construction anywhere in the country.
It is taking them more than 25years to reconstruct less than 150 kilometers Lagos Ibadan expressway and only God knows how long it will take to complete Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ilorin highway.
Recently, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde announced that the state government will soon start working on Okeho Iganna road, to me that is more valid than the federal government approval.
We have seen what the Governor did on Oyo /Iseyin road, Idiko / Ijio / Ayegun Wasinmi Road; what he is doing currently on Iseyin Ogbomoso road and several other roads in the state.
I think all the people talking to the Governor on Okeho Iganna road should not stop talking to him because of this federal government approval and even if we can, we should insist on the state government fixing the road, that will be faster and more realistic.
– Bola Olalere.