Sir: On December 3, 2023, I wrote an article in The Guardian Newspaper entitled ‘‘Ibadan and its famished roads of life’’ in which I castigated the government of Oyo State for not being able to repair the roads that have failed woefully and become disused in Ibadan metropolis and other cities in Oyo State. But in a substantial turnaround, the Oyo State Governor has now turned the scale on its edge and started massive rehabilitation, reconstruction and restoration of roads within Ibadan and its environment and to other towns and villages in the length and breadth of Oyo State well outside the capital city Ibadan.

No doubt his innate ability to listen attentively to the voices of the people both critics and observers make him to make a genuine move to address the actual needs of the people of Oyo State. Now Oyo State is witnessing significant strides in infrastructure, education and economic empowerment, touching the lives of the people and leaving a lasting legacy, impacts on the communities of the people of the state. Indeed in the last 20 years, no governor has priortised road infrastructure like Governor Makinde who used his wealth of engineering experience to bear in delivering key road projects. It looks like the governor is now focused to ensure that the dividends of democracy are largely brought to the masses of the state, to the greater number of the people of the state.

In this regard, the governor has recently commissioned the Akobo- Ojurin –Olorunda Abaa road dualisation which is a 5.9 kilometer highway on 23rd July 2025. Other recently commissioned roads include Beere to Academy Olomi road, Molete to Challenge road, Molete to Dugbe road, Challenge to Dugbe road, Agodi gate to Beere road, Idi Arere to Iletun Okeodo road, Mushin Odinjo road, General Gas to Aiyegoro link Dizengoff, Beere to Monatan road, Agodi gate to Airport road.

Deploying his knowledge of engineering skills in addressing contemporary bad and unmotorable roads in Ibadan metropolis, Governor Makinde is currently reconstructing Awosika Avenue, Old Bodija, Alao Akala Way in Akobo area of Ibadan North East Local Government Area, the first phase of Ibadan Circular road in which 32 kilometers road project has been commissioned, the Ibadan circular road comprises six bridges and several inter-changes; the governor has completed 368. 9 kilometers of roads in Oyo State thereby transforming the state into a thriving new economic hub of the south- western region. Road repairs and reconstruction will extend to all the zones of the state including Ogbomoso, Iseyin, Ibarapa, Saki, Ona Ara and all the other zones of the length and breadth of Oyo State.

The Oyo State Government has given N750 million to Oyo State Road Maintenance Agency for the continuous rehabilitation and re-grading of the roads within the state. The Ogbomoso/Iseyin road tagged Akala Memorial Express Way has been recently commissioned while the dual carriage expressway road from the polytechnic to Sango market in Saki Township had been recently commissioned. The reconstruction the 23 kilometers stretch of road linking Okaka to Igbojaye and Kunle also adjoining Afolayan Film Village had been recently commissioned by the Oyo State Governor on July 7, 2025.

The Ibadan Circular Road is going to be the first motorway in Nigeria and it will have a corridor. At the corridor, it will have world class estates, both residential and industrial. It has an entire span of 110 kilometers with four segments, the South East 32.2 kilometres, North –East 34 kilometres, North –West 23 kilometres, South –West 20.8 Kilometres wings which provide a bye-pass for travellers, goods and freight commuting through Ibadan. As the circular road appears to be the nerve –centre of the economic activities in Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde should do all it takes to complete and commission the road as a parting gift to the people of the state.

The community roads linking all the Local Government Areas of Oyo State deserve special attention of the governor in terms of rehabilitation, reconstruction and restoration. Oyo state has 33 local government areas which are grouped into five geographical zones thus: Ibadan Areas (11 LGAs), Oke Ogun Areas (10 LGAs), Ogbomoso Areas (five LGAs), Oyo Areas (four LGAs), and Ibarapa Areas (three LGAs).

The eleven local councils of Ibadan Areas: Akinyele, Egbada, Ibadan North, Ibadan North East, Ibadan North- West, Ibadan South West, Ibadan South East, Ido, Lagelu, Oluyole and Ona-Ara.

Oke Ogun Areas (10 LGAs): Iwajowa, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Irepo, Iruwa, Kajola, Olorunda, Saki East, Saki West and Wewe.

Ogbomoso Areas (5 LGAs): Ogbomoso North, Ogbomoso South, Surulere, Orire and Ona- Ara. Oyo Areas (4 LGAs): Afijo, Atiba, Atigbo and Oyo West. Ibarapa Areas (3 LGAs): Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East and Ibarapa North.

The main reason while I listed the 33 local councils of Oyo State is that the ubiquitous influence of the governor is felt in all the local councils of the state in terms of road reconstruction and repairs, especially with his engineering skills and prowess he has delivered landmark roads like the circular road, 3.78km Alao Akala Highway in Akobo area of Ibadan North –East Local Government Area. The construction of 76.7km Iseyin –Fapote –Ogbomoso road, reconstruction of 65km Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin road, the road connects Ibadan and Oke-Ogun Zones.

Rehabilitation of 45.3km Saki-Ogbomoso-Igboho road, reconstruction of 37.41km of Beere-Olorunsogo-Amuloko-Akanran-Dagbolu road, reconstruction of 35.53km Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo road, reconstruction of 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin road that connects Oyo and Oke-Ogun Zones. Reconstruction of 48km Ido-Eruwa road that connects Ibadan and Ibarapa zones. Dualisation of 12.5km Challenge-Odo Ona Elewe, Elebu-Apata road renamed Theophilus Akinyele Way. Reconstruction of 12km Apete-Awotan-Akufo road into a rigid pavement road. Reconstruction of 5.2km Gedu-Oroki-Sabo- Asipa road in Oyo zone. Rehabilitation and reconstruction of about 700km of roads in Oyo State. All the roads in the Secretariat, the seat of Oyo State Government had been reconstructed and rehabilitated. The Governor should not forget to reconstruct all the Service Roads in Ibadan, including the one connecting High Court to Mobile Oil Station on Ring Road. The Governor should re-constitute the Road Maintenance Agency to repair and maintain all the beautiful roads he has laboured to reconstruct.

In spite of the massive road infrastructural development of the state, the administration still invests enormously in educational upliftment and development in the state. For instance, the cancellation of payment of all forms of fees and levies in public schools in the state since May 29, 2019 has led to increase in enrolment in public schools by over 50% since the beginning of the administration. Recruitment of 7,000 Primary School teachers, recruitment of 5,000 Secondary School teachers and the recruitment of 692 Education Officers had tremendously improved teaching and transmission of knowledge. Construction of 60 model schools, the construction of 339 classrooms with toilet facilities, the construction of 76 toilets and the renovation of 443 classrooms across the state make life comfortable for the students, especially with the installation of about 100 boreholes. The sole ownership of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology was achieved in 2020. While the take -off grants of ₦500 million for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources, Iseyin was given in 2021. The conversion of Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a University of Education was completed in 2023 with a take –off grant of ₦1billion. Annual Bursary Awards to Law Students and all Final Year Students of Oyo State Origin commenced in 2025.

On healthcare delivery, the renovation and reconstruction of 209 Primary Health Centers across Oyo State was achieved while the establishment of a Geriatric Centre at the former Jericho Specialist Hospital was accomplished.

On security, 105 operational vehicles were purchased for the Nigerian Police in Oyo State while 100 operational vehicles and 396 motorcycles were bought for Oyo State Amotekun. Let me seize this opportunity to appeal to the Governor on the existence of home for the elderly and the aged people called Divine Senior Citizen Palace located at down General Gas Road, Ascension Lane Akobo, Ibadan that had been in existence since 2012 that is thirteen years ago now but without any government assistance or any form of aid.

The home has 28 elderly persons being taking care of by a staff of about 10 persons who are in charge of their feeding and healthcare of the senior citizens. The day to day running of the home is managed by the experienced and seasoned two retired matrons: Mrs Mofoluke Daramola and Mrs Adesola Olajide. I really commend the philanthropic work of the matrons as they seek to promote the welfare of the elderly and the aged, thereby assisting the government by addressing social issues by contributing substantial resources to the welfare of the elderly citizens. Therefore, my appeal to the governor is to provide them with accommodation in one of the government unoccupied buildings and give them annual subsidy to offset some of their expenses and to cater for the feeding and the healthcare of the elderly citizens.

•Prof. Muyiwa Awodiya, a retired Professor of Theatre Arts, can be reached on 08037424915.