Oyo State Governor ‘Seyi Makinde has announced that the state government will soon begin constructing 1,000 kilometers of rural roads to support farming and facilitate the movement of farm produce from rural areas to city centers.
This initiative will be carried out under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), with procurement already completed and site mobilization expected in the coming weeks.
Governor Makinde also approved a directive for the 33 Local Government Areas to grade 30 kilometers of road each.
He made these statements during a special plenary session marking the first anniversary of the 10th Assembly, where he presented a State of the State Address at the Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Agodi, Ibadan.
Addressing the assembly, Governor Makinde explained the strategy behind road construction: “Our approach has been straightforward. We aim to connect all our zones first.
If we can ensure connectivity between zones A, B, and C, half of our transportation issues will be resolved. After this, we will focus on fixing inner roads. We have already begun with inner roads in Ibadan.
Additionally, under RAAMP, 1,000 kilometers of rural farm roads will be constructed. The procurement process is almost complete, and site mobilization will begin soon.”
The governor also mentioned the authorization for local governments to implement 30 kilometers of road each, with funds already allocated to their accounts.
He expressed gratitude to the House of Assembly and the people of Oyo State for their support and contributions to the state’s economic growth, noting an increase in Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from N4.2bn in 2023 to N4.95bn in the first quarter of 2024.
Governor Makinde highlighted his administration’s efforts over the past five years to restore Oyo State’s dignity and pride. He assured a continued cordial relationship among the three arms of government to ensure all zones benefit from good governance.
He detailed achievements across the administration’s four-point agenda: education, health, security, and economic expansion through infrastructure development, agribusiness, tourism, and solid mineral development.
The governor emphasized the implementation of the Sustainable Actions for Economic Recovery (SAfER) to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal on residents.
“In response to subsidy removal and currency peg removal, while other states distributed palliatives, we devised short, medium, and long-term solutions.
SAfER includes food relief, transport subsidies, food security measures, health insurance, and support for small and micro-enterprises and civil servants,” Makinde explained.
In infrastructure, he recounted the successful connection of all state zones through major road projects and the creation of a regional agribusiness industrial hub, particularly highlighting the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub.
Governor Makinde reiterated his administration’s commitment to building institutions that ensure the state’s well-being and prosperity, calling for more support and collective responsibility to address various challenges.
Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, praised the assembly’s efforts over the past year in passing significant legislation and representing constituents effectively. He commended the lawmakers’ dedication and collaboration with the executive arm, crediting Governor Makinde’s leadership for elevating the standard of governance in Oyo State.
The event was attended by notable figures including Deputy Governor Barr. Bayo Lawal, PDP Deputy National Chairman (South) Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, and other former and current state officials, traditional rulers, and religious leaders.
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