Tinubu Flags Off N297bn Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road Dualisation, Approves Abeokuta-Ibadan Reconstruction
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off the reconstruction and dualisation of the 56.5-kilometre Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road, a project valued at N297 billion, linking Oyo and Ogun states, while also approving the immediate reconstruction and dualisation of the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road.
The flag-off ceremony was held on Monday at the Idi Ayunre axis of the road in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, with the President represented by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. Also in attendance were Ogun State Deputy Governor Noimot Salako-Oyedele, Minister of Works Dave Umahi, Minister of State for Works Bello Goronyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Rasheed Ladoja, the APC governorship candidate for Oyo State Senator Sharafadeen Alli, and the contractor handling the project, JRB Construction Company Limited.
According to Umahi, the project involves the construction of approximately 58 kilometres of dual carriageway using continuous reinforced concrete pavement, a design intended to ensure durability, safety, and long-term value for road users. The minister disclosed that the contractor has assured the government of completing the project within 24 months, and charged the firm to fully mobilise to site and strictly adhere to approved specifications. He described the corridor as too important for the Federal Government to neglect, noting that farmers, manufacturers, students, and other residents have depended on the route for decades, and framed the project as more than a simple flag-off but a deeper economic connection between the two states.
Umahi further described the dualisation as marking the end of an era of temporary fixes along the corridor, characterizing the project as a deliberate economic intervention capable of unlocking the agricultural and commercial potential of the Lagos-Ogun-Oyo axis. He said the completed road would improve connectivity, cut travel time, and help address security vulnerabilities associated with the route’s previously deteriorated condition. Minister of State Goronyo added that the project reflects the administration’s broader commitment to using critical infrastructure to drive economic growth, improve living conditions, and create opportunities for trade, investment, and employment across the region.
Beyond the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode corridor, President Tinubu also approved the reconstruction and dualisation of the Ibadan-Abeokuta Road, along with 15 other roads across the South-West region, as part of a broader push to strengthen transportation networks and address longstanding infrastructure deficits in the zone.
The ceremony, however, was not without controversy, as the Oyo State Government publicly protested the exclusion of Governor Seyi Makinde from the event, despite it taking place within his state. The snub drew criticism from state officials who questioned the decision to hold a major infrastructure event in Oyo State without the participation of its sitting governor, adding a political dimension to what was otherwise presented as a purely developmental milestone.
Dignitaries at the event, including traditional rulers and elected officials, described the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Ijebu-Ode Road as a landmark project expected to outlive the current administration, with the ceremony concluding in an official groundbreaking performed by Governor Abiodun on behalf of President Tinubu.
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