Residents of over 20 communities along the Atan-Ado-Ikoga Road in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council and Ogun West Senatorial District have expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu and Minister of Works, David Umahi, for awarding the N37 billion road reconstruction project.

The project, which spans a 16-kilometre stretch, aims to address the deplorable condition of the road that has plagued the area for over three decades. The communities also praised Kamorudeen Yusuf, the President’s Personal Assistant on Special Duties, for his relentless efforts in drawing government attention to the road’s poor state.

The Guardian learnt that Yusuf played a key role as the project facilitator, alongside other public and elected officials from the zone, whose contributions have often been underestimated.

The road’s neglect has adversely affected residents’ quality of life, the local economy, and agricultural activities, as farmers struggle to transport produce to urban areas. Its condition has also deterred potential investors and led some existing ones to withdraw from the region.

The reconstruction, approved as part of a series of projects totalling N1.8 trillion across the country, is expected to benefit communities including Atan, Ajegunle, Olorunleke, Alapoti, Onisaba, Idobarun, and others.

Speaking during a visit to the area yesterday, a market woman in Ado-Odo, Iya Ola, said: “The poor state of the Atan-Alapoti-Ado-Odo-Ikoga has not only affected trade in Ado over the years but has also made it difficult to transport goods within and outside Ado. It used to take several hours to travel on the road, especially with large quantities of food items.”

She commended President Tinubu and the Minister of Works while thanking Yusuf and others who facilitated the project. Similarly, a community leader in Ikoga, Chief Hunsu, remarked: “We least expected President Tinubu’s government to address the road issue so promptly, as past governments had completely forgotten us. When we expressed our concern to Alhaji Yusuf about the state of the road, he promised that something would be done. We never expected it to happen this quickly.”

A resident of Alapoti, Mr Tunde Adebayo, who has lived in the area for 47 years, described the hardship caused by the road’s deterioration. He said, “The condition of the road has brought untold hardship to the people. The road from Atan to Alapoti deteriorates every year, making movement very difficult. What used to be a less than 20-minute journey now takes hours.”