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We are here today to commission the dualised 8.2 km Agodi Gate-Old Ife Road-Alakia-Adegbayi Road Including the Underpass Bridge at the Onipepeye Area of Ibadan. The completion of this project is a further testament to our commitment to expanding the Oyo State economy through road projects. And the expansion of our economy is very important to sustainable development. As we continue to attract large, medium and small businesses into Oyo State, the pressure on our infrastructure increases, and then there is a need to upgrade them. This is why we have chosen to keep investing in infrastructural development.
Our goal is to upgrade cities and towns in Oyo State to places that we can all be proud of. We do not want to leave any communities behind. So, if we had all the resources at our disposal, we would do more at a faster rate. As we all know, our wants and needs are infinite, but the resources to meet them are limited. We often have to prioritise and decide which projects will bring the best value to the good people of Oyo State.
This is indeed the true definition of governance. Good governance is the ability to use limited resources to meet the growing needs of the population by prioritising projects that maximise value. And this is exactly what we are doing in Oyo State.
So, what value is this project bringing?
Well, for one thing, you can now complete a trip to the airport from Agodi Gate in less than 15 minutes. Remember that just about nine months ago, we completed the dualisation of the 3.2 km Airport Road, which we then renamed the Dr Omololu Olunloyo Airport Road. So, you can now easily link Dr Omololu Olunloyo Airport Road from Agodi Gate to the airport through Adegbayi smoothly, saving time and costs. As I stated earlier, this interconnectivity is crucial to sustainable development.
When we came into government for the first term, a lot of people could not key into the vision that we had. They believed it should be business as usual where one zone of the State gets all the development and the other zones have to depend on this one zone’s economy. But we decided from the get-go that we would try something new, and today, we are seeing the results as all zones in the State are witnessing unprecedented development.
Who would have thought a few years ago that local and foreign investors would choose Oyo State as their preferred destination for investment? Today, we can boast of more multinationals and local businesses entering the State than ever before. In December, I was at the Fasola Agribusiness Industrial Hub to celebrate my birthday. Those who have visited the place saw how a facility that was left moribund for decades is gradually becoming a thriving agro-tourism hub. We have effectively put Oyo Zone on the map for further economic development.
So, as we commission this dualised 8.2 km Agodi Gate-Old Ife Road-Alakia-Adegbayi Road Including the Underpass Bridge at the Onipepeye Area of Ibadan, it is another time to remind the good people of Oyo State to stay with the vision. Do not be distracted by people who do not have your best interests at heart. We can already see them starting 2027 propaganda, it is not even a year after the last election. For now, we are concentrating on delivering good governance to our people and not what will or will not happen in 2027. We are determined to deliver on our 2023 mandate and ensure that good governance continues in our dear State.
On this note, I will invite my brother, His Excellency Governor Ademola Adeleke who graciously agreed to commission this project to deliver his remarks. After which we will proceed to commission the dualised 8.2 km Agodi Gate-Old Ife Road-Alakia-Adegbayi Road Including the Underpass Bridge at the Onipepeye Area of Ibadan to the glory of God and for the benefit of the good people of Oyo State.
Thank you and God bless you.
Seyi Makinde
