Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has said the urban renewal initiative of his administration will transform Ado – Ekiti into a modern capital city that can compete with its counterparts across the country.
Oyebanji said his government is completing the Ekiti Agro Allied International Airport, building roads and flyover, designing business districts in the city and adjoining satellite towns to give the capital city a facelift and a befitting status.
Governor Oyebanij stated this in Ado Ekiti, on Friday, while inaugurating the dualised GRA Third Extension road to mark the third anniversary of his administration.
Oyebanji, represented by the Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, stated that the road dualisation, was in pursuit of his urban renewal policy and a way of responding to the increased influx of vehicles to that section of the metropolis.
The Governor added that effective transportation attracts and eases operation of businesses and investments, saying the intra and inter state road connectivities being championed by his government was geared towards creating a strong platform for more investment drives.
“You all know the value placed by this government on provision of road infrastructures. This was responsible for why the government deemed it fit to build road networks to connect our towns and provides internal roads in the communities and satellite towns within Ado Ekiti to ease transportation and bring a facelift to the urban renewal policy being championed by this administration.
“Just two days ago, this government commissioned the Ado Ekiti Ring Road Phase 1 project, a 17.8 kilometre of road that stretches from Iworoko and passes through towns like Are Ekiti, Afao, Araromi Obo, and other adjoining towns and terminates at the Ekiti State International Cargo Airport.
“Our mission is to ensure that a new Ado Ekiti town will be created along that axis that will help the urban renewal policy of government, decongest Ado Ekiti metropolis of traffic logjams and makes it a befitting State Capital.
“This road dualisation project was particularly conceived to ease transportation in this region of Ado Ekiti metropolis . We are not unaware of the increased influx of vehicles to this axis due to the preference people have for residences around here and this propelled the government to embark on this project to further ease transportation and to add modernity expected in any GRA.
“With this road facility, we are convinced that this area will enjoy more accessibility and will help in checking a situation whereby your vehicles get damaged so easily at regular interval”.
Oyebanji urged the residents to coalesce efforts and prevent those he described as unscrupulous elements from damaging the facility, saying it is in their collective interest to join hands with government in preserving the quality of the road.
Speaking at the event, the Commissioner for Works, Mr. Sola Adebayo, described the project as a masterstroke in policy execution, saying government reserved area represents the residential, and industrial hub of any town, which he said makes the dualisation more profound and rewarding.
Adebayo said the dualisation project accentuated the fact that Governor Oyebanji is incurably committed to making Ado Ekiti a business and investment oriented environment, land of prosperity and epicentre of development in the country.
A resident of Maryland Avenue and former Head of Service, Barr Dele Agbede, described the electrification and the dualisation projects as record breaking exploits being the first dual carriage way built in any estate in Ado Ekiti metropolis.
Agbede added that the road laced with solar street lighting will add aesthetic value to the estate and makes it a much sought environment for habitation and business.
” I am happy that Governor Oyebanji has made ways for us where there was no way. In fact, this environment looked swampy and muddy, we never knew this dual carriage can stand here. I want to assure him that we will reciprocate this gesture with votes in 2022″.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Maryland Avenue, Mr Lanre Shittu, branded Oyebanji as a governor with towering stature among progressive governors in Nigeria, with the way he has restored normalcy in terms of business and security to the estate.
“All the landlords here have revalidated their voter cards and transferred same to the nearest polling units so that we can give our governor a block vote in the 2026 governorship election”.
