Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo, on Friday, flagged off the dualisation of the 8.3km Akobo, Ojurin/Odogbo Barracks/Olorunda Abaa Junction road, Ibadan.

The road awarded at the cost of N9.6 billion is to be funded by Lagelu Local Government and scheduled for completion in 12 months.

Makinde, in flagging off the road work, named the longer stretch of the road spanning Idi-Ape to Olorunda Abaa, the Governor Nyesom Wike road.

Speaking, Makinde identified with residents and commuters for hard times borne plying the road over the years, noting that government had paid 30 percent of the contract sum to enable the contractor finish at the stipulated duration.

Noting that some properties will be demolished as a result of the dualisation, he assured of prompt payment of compensation to those that will be affected.

Notwithstanding that local government funds will be used to execute the project, Makinde assured that specifications for state roads will be used for the project.

Earlier, the Olorunda of Olorunda, Samuel Oludele recounted the hard times people facing going in and out Olorunda Abaa.

He said the typical scenario in the area is vehicle owners parking their cars where the Olorunda market, people abandoning their houses for other places and workers physically and psychologically burdened on a daily basis.

Chairman, Lagelu Local Government Area, Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi said the road will especially enhance movement of agricultural products with the area largely agrarian.

He added that the repair of the road will also cut down time spent conveying people in emergency situations.

Several community dwellers lamented that the area had suffered lack of motorable roads for over 15 years.

Speaking on several street lights in the state that have been off for some weeks, Makinde said the state government had reached an alignment with the Light-up Oyo project contractors for the lights to be back on within the next three weeks.

In ameliorating the harsh effects of the fuel subsidy removal on residents of the state, Makinde announced that more mass transit (Omituntun) buses will be deployed into the metropolis.

He added that there would be no increase in the transport fares charged for uses of the mass transit buses, adding that children and the elderly will pay half of the fares payable by commuters using the buses.(Nigerian Tribune)

• Makinde and Wike