~Debo Akinbami, PhD
In his brief stay at the helms, the Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has made good impressions. In diverse dimensions, he has delivered sturdy dividends. In his resolve to upscale the quality of governance in Ondo, the Governor spread sterling strides across the various governmental spheres. His rare acts of governance have been serially applauded. His lustrous achievements remain as benchmarks across the various sectors. His season of impactful administration has raised the bar.
In consummate cravings for change, Governor Aiyedatiwa stamped lustrous projects on the nook and cranny. His bid to further elevate the state by building a virile economy and pushing for measurable development explains the priority he places on quality infrastructure as a pivotal precondition; and, he has, in so doing, unleashed momentous projects on the state; so that when weighed in terms of quality and quantity, his efforts leave none in doubt about his resolve to turn the state around.
Inaugurated February 24th, 2025, Governor Aiyedatiwa has barely spent two of his four-year-term but he has, in a short while, carved a niche in infrastructure. The Governor’s achievements on this front have not only been impressive; they have been instructive; and arguably unmatched by those who recently held the same office before him. It is to Aiyedatiwa’s credit that he has largely completed the projects inherited from his principal and predecessor, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and has, on a larger scale, accomplished new ones.
The iconic Onyearugbulem-Shagari/Irese road project that Aiyedatiwa inherited from Akeredolu and delivered with finesse and precision speaks to the seriousness with which the Governor takes matters of governance. Named after the foremost leader of the Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural Group, Afenifere, the Pa Reuben Fasoranti massive road project, which is the first of its kind in the state capital, now stands as an enduring memorabilia of the late Akeredolu.
Governor Aiyedatiwa does not just deliver infrastructure, he makes certain that they are evenly distributed. His style departs from the pattern of governance where leaders concentrate projects within their domain. He does not lose sight of the fact that the entire Ondo State is his own constituency, and so he consciously touches the three senatorial districts with equal spread of projects.
In the northern part, Governor Aiyedatiwa approved, with dispatch, the immediate construction of a dual carriageway from the Supare junction to Ikare-Akoko, as part of measures to address the recurrent accidents happening at Akungba-Akoko- the university’s community. In the same north, the Governor is constructing the Arigidi-Agbaluku road, rehabilitating the Arigidi-Oke Agbe road, and building the Oba-Ikun-Idoani road, and Okela Federal Technical College road at Ikare.
Apart from making asphalt overlay for selected roads in Owo, Ose and the four Akoko local government areas, Governor Aiyedatiwa has also completed asphalt overlay on the Iwaro-Ayegunle road at Oka-Akoko, and has constructed the Kajola lane at Oke-Ogun, Owo. This administration constructed the Opomulero road, Owo, as well as the Oselu road, up to Isuada junction, Owo. Governor Aiyedatiwa has also constructed the Falodun Avenue road in Oke-Ogun, Owo, the Adelami, Off Isuada road, and constructed Ekungba road at Owo.
In like manner, Governor Aiyedatiwa has wrought incredible projects in the central senatorial district. His works in the central district have been staggering. His urban renewal projects in the state capital continue to attract loud applause. Being part of this effort, the traffic signal infrastructure- at major intersections- makes a massive infrastructure that bears direct impacts on residents’ mobility and overall quality of life. The Aiyedatiwa-led administration constructed the beautiful Igoba road.
This regime dualised the Akure-Oda road; constructed the Alagbaka Exit-SIB road. The Lucky administration also constructed selected roads in Afunbiowo and Ajipowo Estate. There is a long list of roads rehabilitated by the same administration. They include the Ajegunle road, Akure; Odopetu-Oke Padi-Lao road, Akure; Eco Bank-Oke Arata-Iro road, Akure; Gbangbalogun-Odole-Odi Olowo road, Akure; Bye Pass-Gbogi Street;UBA-WAEC road, Alagbaka, Akure.
Other road projects rebuilt by Governor Aiyedatiwa, in the central area: FUTA South -Gate road; Oke-Eda -Government House road, Sita-Government House-CBN road. Oja Oshodi road; SK Bright Road; Ayeloro Street; Akosile Street; Dare Ajaye road; Maronu road; Plaza road; Oke-Eda Government House road; Bishop’s Court -Civil Service Commission road; investment road-Shoprite intercession -Federal Secretariat, SIB road. The administration rehabilitated the Ayeyemi road, Ondo; St. Stephen-Hospital road,Ondo; Odotu-Oke Igbala road, Ondo; Fagun and Valentino roads, Ondo.
Apart from those already delivered, the Governor has approved other projects in the central region and they are already at various levels of completion. In this category is another legacy project- the flyover bridge along Oyemekun-Oba Adesida road, from Agbegbola junction to St. Mathias. The Governor is also currently constructing the dual Akure -Idanre carriageway, Arakale-Oke-Aro dual carriageway; the Akure-Ijare road, and the Akure-Imafon road.
The Governor has approved the construction of the Araromi-Ijare-Odo Oja-Igbara Oke, amidst selected township roads at Ilaramokin; MTD Roundabout -Olofin Grammar School Road, alongside selected township roads at Idanre. Access and internal roads were approved by Governor Aiyedatiwa for Ondo State University of Medical Sciences, Ondo; the Sabo-Orimolade-Akinkugbe-Yaba road, Ondo, and the Holy Trinity-Italuworo road, Ondo. For the residents’ relief, the Aiyedatiwa-led administration is building selected roads within the Obaile Housing Estate.
The south senatorial district is also receiving the Governor’s attention. The administration has rehabilitated the Dumes road at Ore. It has reconstructed the Niger Delta road, Igbokoda; the Mobil dual carriageway, Ore; Reserve Garage, Ore; VIO-Internal Revenue road, Ore; Ade Adeyemi-Olaoluwa Street, Okitipupa. The Alli Balogun, Ewe and Okeraye roads have been rebuilt by Governor Aiyedatiwa. The same way the Onaopemipo road has been rehabilitated. At Irele, Mobayode and Luhare roads have been fixed by this administration; the same way township roads are constructed at Igbotako.
Only recently, Governor Aiyedatiwa commissioned the concrete walkways built to the relief of the Obenla Community. Other projects approved within the southern belt are now at various layers of completion. They include the asphalt overlay of Ugbeyin-Okitipupa Market; OAUSTECH-Ugbonla Jetty, Igbokoda; construction of dual carriageway between the College road-Okoga Junction -Irewole Roundabout, Igbokoda; rehabilitation of the Omotosho-Igbotako-Ijuodo road; construction of Ajagba-Akotogbo road; Ajagba-Iju Osun road and the construction of Okunmo-Igodan Lisa road, as well as selected township roads in Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo.
Governor Aiyedatiwa has embarked on the canalisation of Ugbonla-Idiogba-Ilowo-Obenla-Rewoye- Ikorigho-Awoye in Ilaje, with spurs from Idiogba-Olotu. He had also approved the construction of Agadagba Obon-Ile Ikiri-Igaligaigbo road, with selected township roads at Igboegunrin and Araromi Seaside. On the list of the roads approved for construction is Zion Pepe-Agerige township road; the Irele-Sabomi-Igbotu road, and the Oniparaga-Ago Alaye-Araromi Obu-Ayesan road.
Without dramatising it, the Governor has delivered plethora dividends in infrastructure. Governor Aiyedatiwa is busy rewriting Ondo’s infrastructural story. He is remaking the state’s visage and reordering governance at an enviable rate. The foregoing represents evident testimony of his strides; they reflect the large scale infrastructural revolution happening under Governor Aiyedatiwa and a foretaste of the eldorado underway.
***Dr. Akinbami is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Ondo State on Public Communication.