Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has said the State Government is set to construct, rehabilitate and expand a total of 285 rural roads, across the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas of the state.

He disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting over the construction and rehabilitation of rural roads, under the Ogun State Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP 3), held at the Obas’ complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, yesterday.

Amosun noted that the roads would boost the industrialisation of the state’s economy.

He disclosed that apart from the 285 roads to be fixed by the State Government, an additional 500km rural roads would be rehabilitated by the Access and Mobility project of the World Bank.

He added that the elected leadership of the 57 local government and local council development areas have also been provided monthly fund to tackle infrastructural development projects of their choice, within their areas of jurisdiction.

Speaking on the benefits of these projects, the governor said it would enhance agricultural development and ease movement of agricultural products.

This, he said, would be in addition to the social and economic benefits that come with having local contractors handle the projects.

Amosun described the provision of social amenities, especially good road network, as a catalyst for the desired rural development. He said his administration would collaborate with development partners to consolidate its efforts in providing agricultural value chain.

The governor expressed the desire of his administration to provide equal access to infrastructural facilities for people, both in the urban and rural areas of the state.

Earlier in her welcome address, Ogun State Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs.) Yetunde Onanuga, who supervises the Ministry of Rural Development, explained that the World Bank Rural Access and Mobility projects as well as other infrastructural development projects of the state, in the rural areas, are geared towards reducing rural-urban drift, which she noted, has become a major challenge.

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