Buhari approves N79b road for Ogun – Abiodun

Says State Set To Declare Stand On Ipokia Poly

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that the Federal Government has approved rehabilitation of the Ilaro-Papalanto-Sagamu Expressway, in support of the state’s efforts on infrastructural development.

Addressing residents and people of Yewa South at Ilaro, Abiodun said the reconstruction of the 100 kilometres road would cost government about N79b. He added that the road, which crosses through Obafemi-Owode, Ewekoro, Yewa South and North local government areas, is a major arterial road that links Ogun to other states and the ECOWAS sub-region.

While assuring that his administration would complete the Owode-Ilaro Road before the end of the year, the governor said his administration had completed 66 projects in the Yewa South LG, in two years.

He, however, called on the people of the local government to come out en-masse and vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) chairmanship candidate, Lateef Salami and other councillorship candidates during the local government poll.

Speaking earlier in Ipokia, the governor said his administration would soon take a decision on the viability and sustainability of the establishment of Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia, founded by the immediate past administration.

Abiodun, who declared that the idea behind the institution’s establishment was good, explained that the circumstances that led to its establishment, viability and cost would be taken into consideration.

The governor, who had earlier visited the site of the institution in Oke’ebo Area of Ipokia town, said the school was among projects reviewed by the committee set up to appraise all projects started, but not completed by the previous administration.

“… Now that I am here and have seen, I will go back and make my decision,” he said. “Government is continuum, and this administration has pledged that every commonwealth of ours that we have invested in any project that project is of socio-economic importance to our people, we will ensure its continuity.”

He said his administration met a chaotic situation, where the polytechnic was moved to Ipokia to give way to the proposed Moshood Abiola University of Technology, Abeokuta, expressing unhappiness that neither of the two institutions got accreditation to begin operations.

He said: “When we assumed office, Ogun State Polytechnic was not in session, as it was meant to be relocated to this premises, and the facility meant to become the Moshood Abiola University (MAUTECH), which had neither got accreditation, was also not operational. Thank God, we have been able to resolve that of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic and it is up and running.”

The governor said seven buildings, including a proposed 750-seater hall, two proposed 300 lecture theatres, an administration building, two hostels and two classrooms were the only structures his administration met on ground at the polytechnic.

He, however, disclosed that he had earlier sent an inter-ministerial committee to inspect facilities in the institution, access the level of completion, suitability and readiness for use to enable government take an informed decision to the people’s benefit.

“The facilities are still at a stage where they can’t be used. I don’t know why anyone would move Moshood Abiola Polytechnic to Ipokia, when the site was not even ready. Everything is not politics, we have to think properly…”

He said no fewer than 54 projects had been completed in Ipokia, noting “we have done 325 projects in two years throughout the state.” On the Afa Bridge in the council area, Abiodun pledged to complete it as promised during the 2019 governorship campaign, and that the bridge, when completed, would boost the area’s socio-economic development.