THE Ondo State Government has extended the number of roads being repaired in the first phase of its 100 Roads Rehabilitation Programme to accommodate repair of more roads and ensure more towns benefit from the scheme, even as Akure, the capital and other towns in the state now wear a new look.

    The state’s Commissioner for Information, Hon Kayode Akinmade, while speaking with newsmen in Akure, in company of the state’s Asphalt Company chairman, Engr. Kehinde Oshikoya over the progress of work recorded since the programme commenced last month in the State’s three senatorial districts, informed that Idanre, Igbara oke and Ijare have been included among towns where roads rehabilitation work will be effected. Other major towns, which will also benefit in the repairs, include Ondo, Owo, Ikare and Okitipupa.

     Akinmade, who registered that commendation messages have been pouring in for the government from groups and individuals since the road rehabilitation programme started mid last month, said government conducted a state-wide audit of road infrastructure and discovered that the road network, which is crucial to its socio-economic development agenda, requires more attention. He noted that for maximum success to be recorded in the rehabilitation project, the projects are

deliberately being carried out to coincide with the dry season, noting that the country experienced a prolonged wet spell in 2014, right up to the last week in December.

He mentioned that January 2015 is the earliest period for which road repair can commence, thus necessitating a Needs Assessment Tour, which was conducted and an appropriate road repair schedule designed. He mentioned some of the roads so far rehabilitated in the State Capital to include Ijomu Texaco Junction Arakale, Link Road, Ilemo-Amudipe, Ilemo Road, Lafe-Aule, Lafe- Oke-Ogba, NEPA Road (Adekunle Ajasin street), Old Sijuade- New Sijuade,Oda Road,Oke-Eda Street, CBN Road, Government House and Government Office Road.

   He added that the Road Gangs from the implementing Agency, Ondo State Asphalt Company Ltd (OSAC), last Friday, moved their equipment to some of the town’s other failed inner roads in Danjumaarea, Aladetoyinbo Street linking Onyearugbulem Junction & Odi Olowo where repair works and asphalt laying are on-going to return the roads to motorable standards.       

     Similarly, he offered that Oshinle Road, another commercial part of Akure, which experiences high volume of traffic, is undergoing massive repair works and now wear a new lookand is expected to be 100 per cent pot-hole free soon. 

    The Chairman of OSAC, Engr. Kehinde Osikoya, while explaining the inclusion of Igbara oke and Idanre among the towns to benefit from the road rehabilitation project said the State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, was intent on ensuring an equitable spread of government’s presence in the State. He emphasized that the programme is not limited to Akure, Ondo, Owo, Ikare and Okitipupa, adding that his agency also acknowledges that some roads such as Odokoyi in Akure require complete reconstruction works and it is well-poised to undertake such.

     On their part, road users have expressed satisfaction with OSAC’s standard of work and commitment to rehabilitating the State’s roads. The agency in remarkable response to the needs of the citizenry, has granted several requests to input speed limiting devices also known as ‘road bumps’, on some of the repaired roads, to deter speed.