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The Osun State government has kick-started consultation with residents and community stakeholders in the Iwo Local Government area on its plans on the dualisation of the Odo-Ori Post Office Road with a spur to the palace of the Oluwo of Iwo.
With the construction set to start before the end of April, the Ministry of Works led by Engr Moruf Ojebode, the director of highways, commenced consultation with Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, in his palace on Thursday.
Ojebode formally intimated the traditional ruler of the Governor Ademola Adeleke administration of dualising the township road because of its centrality and significance to the economic life of the community and enhance the existing transportation infrastructure in Iwo.
He added that the government carefully selected the road after analysing its potential to making life more meaningful in the city. Some of the potential, according to the director, were the Odo-Ori Market, the Local Government Secretariat, Palace Road, Post Office and well as being a prominent pathway through which visitors are welcomed into the town.
“Our surveyors and other technical workers will be coming next week to start mapping out the road and marking all structures that will be affected by the expansion. You cannot dualise a road without expanding its widths,” Ojebode said while interacting with Oluwo in his palace.
“The markings will be followed by a flag-off ceremony. Once we start, the construction will proceed non-stop because our plan is to complete the work in 12 months, which is our standard road completion time for projects like this.
“Most importantly, the government will ensure adequate compensation is paid to everyone whose property is demolished to pave the way for the expansion. That is why building marking is the first activity we are embarking on next week.
“The governor is a man of his words, and he will not start a project if there are no funds to execute it to specifications within a reasonable timeframe. We assure you and the people of Iwo that this project will form part of the ongoing and completed roads and projects that the governor has executed in Iwo.”
In his own words, Oba Akanbi described the project as “joyful news”, harping on the importance of completing in record time.
“This is joyful news for the entire Iwoland. I want to remind the governor that this is a big deal for Iwo, and it is good news to everyone of my people. Being the most populous local government in Osun State, this project is long overdue, and we will return the gesture when the time is ripe,” Oba Akanbi said.
“From my experience since my enthronement, Governor Adeleke’s performance in infrastructural renewal is unprecedented. I am excited to hear this news, but I will be more excited when you walk the talk by starting on schedule and finishing it on schedule. A completed project is a useful project, and my people are looking forward to enjoying it when you complete it in 12 months.
“And I also want to make a case for those that will be directly impacted by the demolition. I enjoin the government to determine how much is due to each person and pay them on time. I am assuring the government that Iwo will cooperate with them throughout the construction period.”
Hon. Lukman Mudashiru, rep member from the Ayedire/Iwo/Ola-Oluwa Federal Constituency; Alidu Tadese, Iwo PDP chairman, Hon. Sulaiman Beke((SEEBEE), Hon. Sefiu Isola, Hon. Amoo Afusat and Hon. Ibrahim Akala were all in attendance.
Oba Akanbi led the government’s delegation to inspect the site at Ojo-Ale Roundabout, where the director explained the width of the road and how the expansion would take shape.
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