N159bn Infra Plan: Confusion Over N4.3bn Iragberi-Ikotun-Ara Road
•As Road Listed For Construction Already Under Rehabilitation By FG
•We Are Not Constructing The Ongoing Rehabilitation Road – Gov. Spokesperson Clarifies
Confusion has trailed one of the roads listed for construction as part of the 2025 infrastructure plan of Governor Ademola Adeleke.
The 8.5 kilometer Iragberi-Ikotun-Ara road was billed to be constructed by the state government with the sum of N4,345,992,620.00.
However, Orita Idoo-Ekuro-Iwoye-Iragberi-Ikotun-Ara is already undergoing rehabilitation by the Federal Government, through the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
The rehabilitation of the road was facilitated by the lawmaker representing Ede/Egbedore/Ejigbo federal constituency, Bamidele Salam.”
READ ALSO
• Adeleke Neglects Primary Schools In N159bn Infrastructure Plan
• Osun LG Crisis: APC Blasts Adeleke Over Letter To FG, Says PDP Chairmen ‘Impostors’
The project, according to the signpost, reads, “Rehabilitation of Orita Idoo-Ekuro-Iwoye-Iragberi-Ikotun-Arar oad in Egbedore local government area, Osun State.”
But the state government said the road billed to be constructed is completely different from the ongoing rehabilitation road.
OSUN DEFENDER had reported that Governor Adeleke, last week Tuesday, announced a new N159 billion infrastructure plan aimed at addressing deficits in road construction, healthcare, and education in Osun State.
Speaking at the Exco Lounge, Governor’s Office, Abere, Adeleke disclosed that in the new Infra plan, one hundred and one billion, seven hundred and ninety-nine million, nine hundred and nine three thousand naira (N101,799,993,595.05) is earmarked for road and lightning.
While one billion, nine hundred and eighty-nine million, four hundred and thirty-three thousand naira (N1,989,433,956.69) was billed for the education sector, the health sector will gulp two billion, seven hundred and sixty-three million, one hundred and twenty-four thousand, three hundred and sixty-four naira (N2,763,124,364.50).
The governor said, “The grand total for the infra plan is one hundred and fifty-nine billion, one hundred and fifty-six million, three hundred and ninety-two thousand naira (159,156,392,674.20)”
The spokesperson to the governor,
Olawale Rasheed while giving clarification on the issue, said the road billed for construction by the state government will start from Awo junction at the Iragberi end to Ikotun, Ara and Ejigbo.
Rasheed, said, “the federal government through Hon. Bamidele Salami is doing a lateritic based road on a section of the road, the route for the State road start from Awo junction at the Iragberi end – Ikotun – Ara/Ejigbo road.”
A worker at the state Ministry of Works while also providing clarification, said, “Awo-Iragberi-Aato-Ejigbo road being rehabilitated by FERMA is completely different from Iragberi-Ikotun-Ara road being marked for reconstruction by the state government. They are distinctly different, billed to serve different purposes in opening up the rural communities in that axis in different map and directions.
“The Iragberi-Ikotun-Ara road is the one that goes beside late baba Ogunrinade’s house in Iragberi through Ikotun and bust out at Ara town. The rural road has been there for ages without any government attention. The other one is the road coming from Ede to Awo, passing through Iragberi to Ààtò to Ejigbo, straight line like that.”
Olamilekan Adigun is a graduate of Mass Communication with years of experience in journalism embedded in uncovering human interest stories. He also prioritises accuracy and factual reportage of issues.
