Makinde’s Trajectory in Roads ,
By ABUBAKAR YUSUF
In the last seven years of Engr Seyi Makinde leadership as Governor of Oyo state , alot of transformation particularly on both rural and urban roads has become the cynosure and signature of development in the state.
With determination to change the hitherto neglected critical infrastructure in the state spanned for many decades and neglected at the alter of bitter politics to the deteiment of the suffering masses across the state , Makinde did not hide his disappointment which encouraged him to embark on wholistic rehabilitation and mass construction of roads across the state simultaneously.
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Without conceding quality against the previous norms characterised by shoddy and hasty execution of road projects in the state, he embarked on detailed enumeration of these infrastructure both in the state capital and across the 33 local government areas of the state
This led to the successful and massive commencement and completion of over 500 kilometer of roads across the nooks and crannies of the state , while others are ongoing.
Combining both infrastructure along with agricultural potentials of oyo state, aside giving special attention to the hitherto dilapidated, decapitated and neglected roads in Ibadan the state capital, Governor Seyi Makinde embarked on reconstruction of 110 kilometer ring roads around Ibadan, the state capital that gave a face lift to the ancient city worsened by lack of attention by the previous administration(s).
Having achieved the immediate face-lift of the state capital congested by lack of attention and motorable roads which included that of the federal government, more roads were embarked upon solely designed to reduce traffic congestion, which included flyovers, interchanges, underpasses.
Aside special attention to roads in the state capital and the entire length and breadth of the metropolitan areas , the need to open up industrial and residential areas encouraged more attention to roads infrastructure.
Since construction of motorable and durable roads will attracts more sectoral development in the state without compromise, Makinde expanded his template of urban-rural renewal into extending more attention to rural areas roads.
The ever congested and haven of gridlock Old Ife road was linked to New Ife Expressway to Ajia- Airport corridor that changed the narrative of delays and congestion in the state capital.
The economic and social importance of the historic Ibadan circular road that changed the face of the state capital to modern city from ancient town, not minding side resistances but to the betterment of the state was massively reconstructed in line with new order under Engr Seyi Makinde.
Taking cognizance of rural urban migration and the need to nip it in the bud, along with movement of agro-products while been mindful of agro minded roads led to the construction of 65km Iseyin- Moniya road and construction of 75km Iseyin- Fapote- Ogbomoso road that is of great importance to the people of the state .
In the same vein , the administration of Governor Seyi Makinde upgraded through the rehabilitation of Iseyin- Oyo road, Saki- Igbo- ora- Igboho road under the same template of mass rehabilitation of rural roads across the state.
The Seyi Makinde led administration in Oyo state ensured the opening up of rural roads , rehabilitation of the existing ones to ease traffic congestion, movement of goods , farm products among many other activities of the rural dwellers.
With the massive construction and achievements in road infrastructure in Oyo state that has returned both the archaic Ibadan roads and rural areas to modern cities, no doubt his mission to ‘Reset Nigeria’ in the current dispensation as the presidential candidate of Allied People’s Movement, APM will galvanize more roads construction across the country, beyond mere pronouncements by the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that had led to massive gridlock across the six geopolitical zones interms of quality roads in the country.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF, NPS, APM.
DemocracyNewslineNewspaper September 22, 2026
