Oyo protests Makinde snub as FG launches Ibadan-Ijebu road reconstruction

August 25, 2026 3:00 am

Ademola Adegbite and Gabriel Oshokha, Ibadan

The Federal Government on Monday flagged off the N297bn reconstruction of the 56.5km Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road in Oyo State, amid protests from the state government over the exclusion of Governor Seyi Makinde from the ceremony.

President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, flagged off the road reconstruction.

The President also approved the redesigned 70-kilometre Ibadan–Abeokuta Road, with the procurement process already ongoing.

Speaking at the event, Tinubu said the project was one of the cardinal programmes (infrastructural development) of his administration aimed at ameliorating the suffering of the people by making all the roads in the 36 states of the federation motorable.

Lamenting that the road has been in a state of despair for years, the President said the project, which is being handled by the JRB Construction Company, would be completed in 36 months.

“Today demonstrates the flag-off of the 56.5 km Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road. It is more than just a flag-off; it is a connection between the two states economically.

“Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode is too important for the Federal Government to neglect. The importance of this road extends beyond the boundaries of the states.

“For decades, farmers, manufacturers, students and other residents have depended on the use of this road. This project reflects the commitment of the Federal Government in delivering safer roads for the people of the country.

“On completion, the road would increase the Gross Domestic Product of the affected states with further attraction of local and foreign investment,” he stressed.

Tinubu, therefore, charged the contractor to deliver the project on schedule.

In his remarks, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Mohammed, said upon completion, the road would ease the transportation bottleneck being experienced by the residents of the two states.

Mohammed said, “The project has further shown the commitment of President Tinubu’s administration to infrastructural development in the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

“The only way to reciprocate the gesture is for the people in the region to vote massively for Tinubu and all the candidates of the All Progressives Congress in 2027.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, described the road as a gift to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, from the President.

He said, “Mr President directed me to act on the letter written by Oba Ladoja on the need for infrastructural development in the South-West region, which includes the Ibadan-Ijebu Ode road and other roads in the region.

“Also, Mr President has directed the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Abeokuta road and 15 other roads in the region.

“Every road that the President builds has a lifespan of 100 years. Many roads have been redesigned, including Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa and others.

“We may not complete all the projects that we have started by 2027, but all will be completed and commissioned on or before 2031,” he stated.

Umahi said Oyo State currently had 17 major road projects out of the 47 Federal Government projects being executed across the South-West.

He added that Ogun and Ondo states had a combined 82-kilometre stretch of the Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, which, he said, would provide access to the biggest seaport currently being developed in Ogun State.

While highlighting some of the projects being executed by the Federal Government in the South-West, the minister listed the 1,068-kilometre Badagry–Sokoto Road, noting that 258 kilometres had already been dualised.

He also mentioned the 56-kilometre Oyo–Ogbomoso Road, which he said was 80 per cent completed, as well as the 34-kilometre Oyo–Ibadan Road, which was abandoned but had been resuscitated by the present administration.

Umahi described JRB, the contractor handling the Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode Road, as one of the best-equipped indigenous contractors in the country, with a record of executing quality projects across Nigeria.

He called on the people of the affected communities to support the contractor and ensure the timely completion of the project.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Allwell Onyesoh, said the road was conceived during the administration of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo in 1965 to link the people of Ibadan and Ijebu.

He noted that Tinubu’s decision to reconstruct and modernise the road would make it more functional, reduce travel time and minimise accidents along the corridor.

The member representing Ijebu North, Ijebu East and Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Joseph Adegbesan, said he moved the motion for the reconstruction of the road because of its importance to the socio-economic development of Ogun and Oyo states.

He said the road provided critical access to markets, farmlands and educational institutions, expressing appreciation to Tinubu for responding to the demands of the people by awarding the contract for its reconstruction.

The Chairman, House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, said the project would bring relief to the people after many years of travelling on the deplorable road.

He assured that the people would cooperate with the Federal Government and the contractor to ensure the timely completion of the project.

Oba Ladoja promised that the gesture would be reciprocated in the coming election.

Lauding the gesture of Tinubu towards infrastructural development in the South-West, Olubadan gave assurance that the people in the region would retaliate with their votes in 2027.

He said, “Tinubu deserves to be President for a long time. We appreciate him for making the road project possible, having known about insecurity on the road.

“His performance is likely to help him win the coming presidential election.

“Recall that I led other Oyo State Obas to the President in appreciation of the rescued Oriire kidnapped victims.

“This road is going to improve the relationship between the Ijebu and Ibadan people. I have been assured that the road will be delivered in 24 months.

The people of Ibadan and Oyo State are using this opportunity to thank the President for the project, and we shall retaliate in the coming election,” the monarch assured.

The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Razaq-Adenugba, who represented all the traditional rulers in Ijebuland, said the project would ease the transportation problem in the zone.

He added that it would address the issues of insecurity and improve the economy of the region.

Other dignitaries at the event were Ogun State Deputy Governor, Moimot Salako-Oyedele, governorship candidate of the All Progressives in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Alli, chieftains of the APC and other eminent personalities from Oyo and Ogun states.

Reacting, the Oyo State Government decried the exclusion of Makinde from the flag-off ceremony.

The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, in a statement released on Monday, said the ceremony, which took place at Idi Ayunre and was attended by Abiodun, Umahi, Alli and Oba Ladoja, fell short of its edifying billing because of the desperate political undertone.

The statement said, “The excuse that the invitation was not extended to Governor Makinde because he was on leave makes the case even more ridiculous, because there is a functional acting governor on the ground.

“Governor Makinde is unperturbed and regrets that the event was reduced to a political jamboree.

“The course of 2027 is set, and no level of indecorum or desperation from whatever quarters will hold back the will of the people.”

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