President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the reconstruction and dualisation of the 58-kilometre Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road linking Oyo and Ogun states, while also approving the immediate reconstruction and dualisation of the Abeokuta-Ibadan Road.
The Federal Government stated that the infrastructure projects are part of sustained efforts to strengthen transport connectivity, promote economic integration, and eliminate critical road infrastructure deficits across the South-West.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at Legacy Estate in Idi-Ape, Ibadan, President Tinubu, who was represented by the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, described the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode corridor as a vital economic artery connecting Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode, and the Lekki industrial corridor to other parts of the federation.
The President noted that the project demonstrated what purposeful leadership can achieve when driven by the welfare of the people, describing the flag-off as “a decisive statement that no critical infrastructure deficit will be ignored and no strategic economic corridor will be allowed to stand in the way of our collective prosperity.”
Tinubu said, “The Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode Road is too important to Oyo State, Ogun State, Lagos and, indeed, the entire Nigeria to be left unattended to.”
He added, “Today, the Renewed Hope Agenda moves beyond promises into practical action through a project that will improve mobility, strengthen commerce and create new possibilities for our people,”.
The President stated that the 58-kilometre road will be reconstructed as a dual carriageway using continuous reinforced concrete pavement to guarantee long-term durability and safety. He disclosed that the contractor had given assurances of completing the project within 24 months, directing the company to adhere strictly to technical specifications and project timelines.
Appealing to host communities for cooperation, the President warned against disruptions or encroachments capable of delaying construction work, noting that the project will significantly reduce travel time, facilitate the movement of farm produce and finished goods, and generate employment.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed that President Tinubu had ordered the immediate reconstruction and dualisation of the 70-kilometre Ibadan-Abeokuta Road, with procurement processes already underway.
Umahi noted that Oyo State currently accounts for 17 out of the 47 Federal Government road projects being executed in the South-West. He added that Ogun and Ondo states have a combined 82-kilometre portion of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which will provide vital access to the deep-sea port under development in Ogun State.
Reviewing other ongoing federal road developments in the region, the minister stated that 258 kilometres of the 1,068-kilometre Badagry-Sokoto Road have been dualised, while the 56-kilometre Oyo-Ogbomoso Road has reached 80 per cent completion, alongside the resuscitated 34-kilometre Oyo-Ibadan Road. He commended the indigenous contractor handling the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode corridor, JRB, as a well-equipped construction firm capable of delivering quality work.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, recalled that the road was originally conceived in 1965 during the administration of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo to link Ibadan and Ijebu communities, adding that modernising the road would minimise crashes and ease travel.
The lawmaker representing Ijebu North, Ijebu East, and Ogun Waterside Federal Constituency, Joseph Adegbesan, said he sponsored the legislative motion for the road’s reconstruction due to its critical value to farmlands, markets, and institutions across Ogun and Oyo states.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, stated that the project would bring lasting relief to commuters who had endured the bad road for years, pledging community support for the contractors.
Traditional rulers along the corridor also commended the Federal Government. The Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Rasak Adenugba, stated that the reconstruction would restore commercial activities and reduce accidents, while the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashid Ladoja, noted that the bad state of the road had previously exposed commuters to kidnapping and banditry, expressing optimism that the rehabilitation will enhance security and regional integration.
The Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road project was awarded on May 5, 2026, and commenced on July 11, 2026, with full completion scheduled for June 10, 2029.
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