The Oyo State Government has fulfilled its promise to link all six geo-political zones of the state through the construction of durable and accessible road networks. Key infrastructural projects were approved at the State Executive Council meeting, including the reconstruction of the 30-kilometre Igboho–Kishi Road in the Oke-Ogun area and the 38.9-kilometre Ido–Akufo–Eruwa Road in Ibarapa axis, with costs of ₦38,689,548,227.66 and ₦50,344,692,765.50 respectively.
According to a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the reconstruction of the 30km Igboho–Kishi Road was approved at a cost of ₦38,689,548,227.66 (Thirty-eight billion, six hundred and eighty-nine million, five hundred and forty-eight thousand, two hundred and twenty-seven naira, sixty-six kobo).
Similarly, the reconstruction of the 39km Ido–Akufo Junction–Eruwa Road will be executed at a cost of ₦50,344,692,765.50 (Fifty billion, three hundred and forty-four million, six hundred and ninety-two thousand, seven hundred and sixty-five naira, fifty kobo).
According to the Commissioner, these projects formed part of the major highlights of the Executive Council’s approvals aimed at further improving infrastructures across the state.
On energy, the Council also approved the construction, installation, distribution , operation, and maintenance of the 12MW Ibadan Independent Gas Power Plant Project at a cost of ₦27,338,650,000 (twenty-seven billion, three hundred and thirty-eight million, six hundred and fifty thousand naira).
This approval will ensure the attainment of sustainable infrastructural development in the state by providing uninterrupted electricity to critical government facilities such as the Oyo State Secretariat, Government House, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State (BCOS), High Courts, State Hospitals, and Lekan Salami Stadium, among others.
Also, after the completion of the earlier approved installation of high mast floodlights in parts of the state, the Council has approved another award for a hybrid power system at a cost of eight billion, nine hundred and sixty-seven million, eight hundred and ninety-five thousand, four hundred and thirty-six naira, twenty-six kobo (₦8,967,895,436.26) to extend the project to selected key areas within the Ibadan metropolis.
On the education front, the Council approved the release of ₦3,554,642,584 (Three billion, five hundred and fifty-four million, six hundred and forty-two thousand, five hundred and eighty-four naira) as counterpart funding to facilitate the disbursement of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grant to Oyo State for the 2024 UBEC/SUBEB Intervention Project.
Similarly, the Council approved the remodelling and reconstruction of the uncompleted library building located behind the Government House, which has been abandoned for about 25 years. The project will be undertaken at a cost of ₦3,787,371,025 (Three billion, seven hundred and eighty-seven million, three hundred and seventy-one thousand, twenty-five naira).
The release also stated that a total sum of ₦221,021,000 (Two hundred and twenty-one million, twenty-one thousand naira) was approved for the conduct of the second and third term unified examinations for public primary schools across the state.
Other approvals include the construction of an office building for the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYACA) at a cost of ₦1,334,603,000 (One billion, three hundred and thirty-four million, six hundred and three thousand naira), and the construction of a permanent site for the Nigeria Mobile Police Squadron located in Ago-Are, Oke-Ogun Zone, at a cost of ₦5,858,061,682.31 (Five billion, eight hundred and fifty-eight million, sixty-one thousand, six hundred and eighty-two naira, thirty-one kobo).
It will be recalled that the state government had requested for the establishment of the Mobile Police Squadron to strengthen security and quell banditry activities in the Oke-Ogun region.
