President Bola Tinubu has flagged off construction of the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road and reconstruction of the Gbongan-Osogbo Road in Osun State, committing a combined ₦216.65 billion to the two federal road projects and directing contractors to deliver quality work within agreed timelines.
Tinubu did not attend the flag-off ceremony in Osogbo in person on Thursday. He was represented by the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who conveyed the president’s directives to contractors, engineers, and state officials gathered for the event.
The ceremony drew Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo; Works Minister Senator Dave Umahi; and Osun governorship candidate Bola Oyebamiji, among other dignitaries who attended the flag-off in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Tinubu told attendees through his representative that his administration would enforce quality standards and transparency across the projects. “Every Naira must count. Every milestone must be met. And every community must feel the benefit,” he stated in a message delivered at the ceremony.
He also urged contractors handling both projects to engage young people during construction, providing them opportunities to gain practical skills and experience on federally funded infrastructure work in the state.
Tinubu added: “To our contractors and engineers, deliver with excellence and speed. To our state and local partners, let us work as one team. Together, we will build not just a road but trust and not just a route but a future.”
The Gbongan-Osogbo Road project covers approximately 44 kilometers of road alignment. The scope of work includes upgrading failed sections of the existing carriageway and reconstructing deteriorated dualized sections along the corridor connecting Osogbo with surrounding communities.
Communities along the Gbongan-Osogbo corridor include Owode-Ede, Akoda-Ede, Sekona, Oogi, Ode-Omu, and Gbongan. The federal government awarded that contract to Messrs. Trucrete Solutions Limited at a cost of ₦101.8 billion, with a 24-month completion window.
The Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road spans approximately 82 kilometers and serves as the shortest route between Osogbo and Ibadan. The road passes through key agricultural areas in both Osun and Oyo States, making its rehabilitation significant for the movement of farm produce and commercial goods across the corridor, according to statements made at Thursday’s ceremony.
The federal government awarded the Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road contract to Messrs. Peculiar Concerns Limited at a value of ₦114.85 billion. That project also carries a 24-month completion period, bringing the total combined value of both contracts to ₦216.65 billion.
Tinubu disclosed that other federal road projects in the region remain ongoing. These include the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha rehabilitation and the dualization of the Ilesha-Akure-Owo-Benin Road, which he confirmed are progressing at different stages of completion.
On the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, Tinubu disclosed that Section 1 in Lagos has been substantially completed, while sections across Ogun, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River states remain at various stages. He said work on the Sokoto-Badagry Road is ongoing, with completion levels ranging from 18 to 60 per cent across sections.
For the Trans-Sahara trade route, spanning Calabar through Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, and Nasarawa to Abuja, Tinubu confirmed that some sections have commenced construction while others are undergoing design and mobilization ahead of groundbreaking work.
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, spoke at the event and expressed support for Tinubu’s administration. The monarch urged voters to back the president’s re-election bid in 2027, stating that other presidential candidates seeking his endorsement ahead of that election would not receive it.
Governor Okpebholo and Works Minister Umahi called on Osun residents to support the ruling party in the forthcoming Osun governorship election, describing such support as a means of appreciating the federal government’s road intervention in the state.
The Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan Road and Gbongan-Osogbo Road projects form part of the federal government’s broader infrastructure program targeting improved road networks, easier transportation, and stronger economic activity across Osun, Oyo, and neighboring states.
