Odita Sunday 
Umahi flags off Ibadan-Ijebu Ode dualisation, vows end to road ‘temporary fixes’
By Odita Sunday
The Federal Government has commenced the dualisation of the 56.5-kilometre Ibadan-Ijebu Ode Road, with the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, declaring that the era of temporary repairs on the strategic corridor is over.
Umahi spoke on Monday at the flag-off ceremony held at the Open Field of Legacy Estate, Ibadan, Oyo State, describing the project as a major economic intervention designed to improve transportation, boost commerce and strengthen security along the Lagos-Ogun-Oyo axis.
“Today marks the end of an era of temporary fixes on this vital corridor. Under the visionary leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are building roads that will outlive generations,” the minister said.
He explained that the project, approved by the Federal Executive Council and awarded to JRB Construction Limited, was not merely about road construction but about unlocking the agricultural and commercial potential of the three-state corridor.
Umahi said the completed dual carriageway would reduce travel time, improve connectivity between Oyo and Ogun states and address security vulnerabilities associated with deteriorated portions of the road.
“By expanding this corridor, we are unlocking the massive agricultural and commercial potential of the Lagos-Ogun-Oyo axis, reducing travel times drastically, and eliminating security vulnerabilities like kidnapping that thrived on dilapidated sections,” he said.
The minister commended JRB Construction Limited for its work on the project, describing the firm as one of the best indigenous contractors handling federal road projects.
“I can tell you that JRB contractors are the best indigenous contractors. Go and see the work they are already doing. They are filling up to 40 feet along this road,” Umahi said.
Representing President Tinubu at the ceremony, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, described the project as a vital economic link between two neighbouring states.
“Today demonstrates the flag-off of the 56.5km Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode road. It is more than just a flag-off; it is a vital connection between two sister states economically,” Abiodun said.
The governor said the corridor was too important for the Federal Government to neglect and expressed confidence that its completion would stimulate economic activities and improve movement between the two states.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, also welcomed the project, saying farmers and traders had endured significant hardship using the road over the years.
“We thank President Tinubu for seeing the strategic value of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode Road. For years, our farmers and traders faced immense hardship navigating this route,” the monarch said.
Ladoja commended Umahi for his role in advancing the Federal Government’s infrastructure agenda, describing him as an “indefatigable champion of infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Umahi disclosed that the Ministry of Works would immediately turn its attention to other critical road projects across the country.
He said he would visit the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road to engage stakeholders and find a solution to the difficulties confronting motorists along the route.
According to him, the problems on the road were linked to a concession arrangement involving the private sector, which he said had resulted in the removal of more than 30 kilometres of asphalt.
Umahi said the ministry would engage the independent engineer, lawyers, concessionaire and the Edo State Government to resolve the matter.
He also disclosed that the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, would visit the Ifaki-Kabba Road linking Ekiti and Kogi states to assess its condition and report back to President Tinubu.
Umahi said the President had previously directed the ministry to address the poor condition of the road and that the project had since been redesigned.
The minister further praised Tinubu for approving what he described as critical road projects across the country, insisting that every part of Nigeria was benefiting from the administration’s infrastructure drive.
He urged Nigerians to acknowledge the scale of road construction taking place under the Tinubu administration, saying the country had become a construction site.
“So I want Nigerians to appreciate what the president is doing. Every state is a construction site. There is no region that we say, ‘Oh, we are shortchanged.’ There is nothing like that. So I commend the president very highly,” Umahi said.
The ceremony ended with the official ground-breaking of the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode dualisation project, performed by Governor Abiodun on behalf of President Tinubu.
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