The governor of Ondo State, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has shown for umpteen times that genuine government in a state like Ondo that has the challenges of development should be action focused and not mere rhetorics which has been the case with many politicians and leaders.
Ever-persuaded that development transcends politics, Akeredolu, has since assumption of office in February 2017, separated politics from governance, by focusing on implementation and execution of projects, programmes and policies that are directed at the prosperity of the state and its people and banishing poverty. The governor, who jokingly sang “bi e o tile dibo, a ma se ona” meaning “even if you did not vote for us, we shall construct your roads” while flagging off construction of network of roads at Oke Ogba in Akure, has refused to be distracted from his vision and mission of improving the quality of lives of the people across the three senatorial districts of the state.
One thing that has continued to attract the admiration of all to Akeredolu is the difference he has brought to development in the state by changing the trend of sectionalism which was the lot of the immediate past administration in its eight years in office. This, no doubt, is why there is the agreement that Akeredolu is breaking new grounds for growth and prosperity.
The distribution of projects that have direct bearing on the people’s welfare and economic development of the state across the three senatorial districts has demonstrated the commitment of the governor to serve all.
In the last one year, infrastructure projects executed and ongoing across the three senatorial districts include redesigning and construction of the notorious Oke Oka Road, Iwaro Oka; dualisation of Ikare township roads; Owo street light project; construction/rehabilitation of selected roads at Ifon; Ute township roads; Greenfield Asset-Poultry Project, Emure and rehabilitation/construction of Oke Alaafia, Supare Akoko among others at the North Senatorial District.
For the Central Senatorial District, the projects included ZL Global Waste Management Project, Akure; Construction/rehabilitation of Idanre Roads; construction of Idanre – Ijoka Road; construction of Oke Ogba Network, Akure; Sunshine Crest Rice Project, Igbara Oke; construction of selected roads at Isarun among others.
Among project executed or ongoing in the South Senatorial District are construction of Araromi Seaside to Akodo, Lekki Lagos; Flyover across Benin – Lagos Expressway at Ore; Okitipupa Bye-pass Road; and Hessmac-Ore Industrial Park, Ore; and Wems Agro-rice Project, Akotogbo among others.
Akeredolu is not without focus on development and prosperity in all his steps. This was what he shed light on when he said: “Our policy on massive infrastructural development will seek to open up the hinterland through our roads and waterways”.
While justifying his resolve to open up Ondo South as gateway to the development of the state in view of its vast endowments and untapped potentials, the governor said: “If we are going to grow in Ondo State, that growth is going to start in the South Senatorial District. This is because everything we need to grow is here”.
The flag off on March 14, 2018 of the 51km Araromi Seaside (in Ilaje Council area) – Akodo, Lekki, Lagos State Road project estimated at N19.3 billion is a step towards exploring and exploiting the potentials of the coastal area of the state.
The road is to be constructed in the difficult coastal terrain by the Ondo State Government in partnership with the Niger-Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Trips to Lagos by road from the area are tortuous as the people will have to travel hundreds of kilometers to access Lagos – Benin Expressway at Ore in Odigbo Council area or Lagos – Benin Expressway at Akinfosile Junction at Okitipupa Local Government area for onward journey to Lagos.
But with the Araromi Seaside – Akodo Lekki Expressway which is expected to be a very short means of accessing Lagos State from the communities in the South Senatorial District, travelers would no longer have to spend their time and resources on the roads unnecessarily.
That was why the people of Ilaje, Ese Odo, Okitipupa and Irele council areas trooped out in their numbers to be part of the epoch making occasion which the project flag off represented. Traditional rulers in the Ilaje and Ese Odo local government areas, adorned in their royal regalia, could not hide their endorsement for the governor in view of his visionary landmarks.
The joy of the people, who described the Araromi – Lagos road project as a dream come through, knew no bounds on the occasion as shown in their dressings and accompanying celebrations.
This is because the people had thought the April 14, 2017 signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Ondo State Government and NDDC on the construction of the road was a mere political jamboree.
To the people of Ilaje and Ese Odo councils especially, whose progenitors had foreseen the time when the area would get recognition and be the toast of all, they could not but be full of praises to the Almighty God and appreciation of the governor.
Recognition of the area began about a decade ago with the beginning of the Igbokoda – Ugbo – Ayetoro Road, the first road ever linking communities in the Ilaje Council areas with Igbokoda, the council headquarters and indeed other local governments. But extending the road to Lagos was a crowning attempt.
Revered traditional ruler and the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Akinruntan, who expressed the joy of his people that the dream of development was being realized in this generation, assured that the project would be guarded jealously by the various communities to ensure hitch-free construction with a view to completing it on time.
The monarch said: “This is a worthwhile venture. Our forefathers had foreseen this development. It is a thing of joy that it is happening in our time. There is no way we can quantify the benefits of this project to us and to the state. It takes foresight and good spirit for the governor to have thought of this project in this terrain and deem it fit”.
Representative of the project consultants, Engineer Oluremi Osiberu, said the road, apart from linking Lagos to Ondo State, will as well be a link road with the West – East Road.
Osiberu said the road had been designed as a dual carriageway although construction would begin with one side in view of the anticipated low traffic at the beginning.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman of the state government agency charged with the responsibility of development of the coastal areas, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC), Mr Olugbenga Edema, lauded the Akeredolu government for opening up the road to link the area with Lagos.
Edema said the road would in turn facilitate the economic development of the South Senatorial District and by extension, the state, adding that with the road which will reduce the time spent on journeys to and from Lagos, travelers can now use such precious hours on other productive ventures.
In his address, NDDC Chairman, Senator Ndoma Egba, said the Araromi – Akodo, Lekki road project was important as “it opens new frontiers for growth, prosperity and regional integration,” saying it would connect the agricultural-rich communities of Araraomi Seaside, Igbo Erelu, Aba, Awodiora, Elefon, Ode Omi, Imedu, Igboguna, Akodo with Ise in Ibeju Lekki areas of Lagos State.
The NDDC boss, who said the project which would be completed on time, would make movement from Ondo to Lagos last less than one hour and as well open up Ondo State and the south senatorial district, said: “On completion, the road will facilitate easy evacuation of agricultural produce from these communities. Today’s occasion celebrates the limitless opportunities for growth and development when state governments and partners in the region team up with NDDC for the common good”.
Egba, who said the essence of partnership with member states was happening in Ondo State with the road project, assured that the Federal Government would soon complete the Omotoso Power Plant and ensure restoration of power supply to the senatorial district, assured that “development will come to Ondo State with the synergy of light and roads”.
Governor Akeredolu, who said the idea of the link road was like a dream, said that the benefits of the project, when completed were many, saying it would engender development on an exponential scale especially when compared with other endowments of the area such as bitumen and seaport.
While giving details of the 51km project, the governor said it covered the 36 kilometres distance to Lagos and about spurs to communities along the route totalling about 17 kilometres, assuring the people of completion of the project which he said would not suffer the fate of other projects hurriedly conceived by some political leaders to achieve parochial political ends.
He said: “The attendant socio-economic benefits which the completion of this road will bring are considerable. There will be an unprecedented influx of visitors to our state through this route. The sons and daughters of these communities will no longer have excuses not to visit as frequently as possible. Economic activities will improve and real wealth will be created for the people for the benefit of our people.
Akeredolu described the kick off as historic, saying: “The knowledge of the indispensability of a link road between our coastal communities and Lagos propels this administration to ensure that this construction does not only take off, but we are also reassuring our people that we shall be back to inaugurate it in due course”.
The governor, who said “There are many roads, there are many projects, but this is the project”, added that “the road to development in Ondo State is opening up the South, and that is what we are doing.”
He said: “Commercial activities could be through road and sea. We have both and we are determined to explore both. We are determined to have seaport in this area. All we need is prayers. If we are going to grow Ondo State, that growth is going to start in the South. This is because everything we need to grow is here.
“By the time we have seaport, commercial activities will grow. Our youths will have jobs. Even the investment we are attracting. We must make this project a reality,” the governor said as he appealed to the traditional rulers in the area to ensure protection and security of the contractors and all working on the project.
With the commitment of the governor who has demonstrated that his words are his bonds, people of the coastal area and indeed Ondo State have no doubt in their minds that the project would be completed in due course.