~Debo Akinbami, PhD.
Monday, in Akure, the Ondo State capital, was a history made. The capital city received another grand delivery of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s infrastructure signature. To witness the history, citizens, in their thousands, had thronged the popular Cathedral bus-top, where the official flag-off took place- the 2.38Km Oba-Adesida Flyover bridge; a classic, colossal and compelling project. A promise of another iconic leap.
Cited along the Oyemekun-Oba Adesida Road, the bridge being built by Bulletine Construction Company Limited, takes off from Adegbola Junction, through the St. Mathias/NNPC Filling gas station, to ease congestion and reposition Akure as a more competitive and investor-friendly capital; a forceful governmental effort to further enrich the city with efficient infrastructure that enhances businesses, retains talent and expands opportunities.
Not just another project. It is a lustrous legacy underway; a graphic demonstration of Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to prudent fiscal management; a clear expression of his avowal to deploy public resources strictly to projects with clear, direct and measurable benefits. And this, at completion, would lay a sturdy foundation for a 21st-century economy, gives a fillip to enterprise, enables mobility and productivity, and makes development viable and inclusive.
Like other strides by Governor Aiyedatiwa, the project will remodel the state capital. It will elevate its status and make it comparable. It will make a boost for business and economy; minimize vehicular crash, reduce gridlock and save commuters’ time; so that when traders move goods with relative ease, students can get to school on time, patients reach hospitals in good time and workers return home timely and safely, the project would have justified itself.
This effort, by the Governor’s words, becomes worthier: “The Oyemekun–Oba Adesida axis is one of the busiest arteries of the state capital. It has long served as the fulcrum of commercial, administrative and social activity in the capital city, connecting our foremost markets, financial institutions, educational establishments, places of worship and dense residential settlements. It is the corridor through which the economic life of Akure pulses daily. Yet, with growth has come considerable strain.
“Increasing population, rising vehicular movement and expanding of commercial activities have created persistent congestion and heightened the risk of road accidents. These challenges hamper productivity, discourage investment and compromise the safety and well-being of our citizens. A responsible government must, therefore, act decisively to remedy the situation.”
By style, Governor Aiyedatiwa does not just act decisively, he prioritizes improved living conditions for the citizenry. He pursues the prosperity of the largest number of persons through strategic infrastructural interventions that dot the entire landscape of the state. The Oba-Adesida Flyover, borne out of careful planning, rigorous technical appraisal and extensive stakeholders’ engagement, would deliver a modern transport solution that prioritises efficiency, safety and the seamless movements within the metropolis.
When weighed without prejudice, the size of this project, and the solutions that it promises, provide inkling about the thoughts of Aiyedatiwa for not just Akure as a state capital but the entire Ondo State and her people. The Governor desires the very best for the state that means everything to him, the reason he is doing so well, particularly with infrastructure as he is with other critical parts of governance.
At this rate, the Aiyedatiwa-led administration is fast surpassing records and raising the bar in infrastructure. The government’s manifest signature across the state confirms his commitment to responsive governance, strategic development and a life of ease as encased in “Our Ease” agenda. The capital city has received the project with applause. And, across the state, the laudation gets louder.
Dr. Akinbami is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ondo State on Public Communication.
