Sophia Michaels
The sum of N3.5 billion was approved on Wednesday, by the Oyo State Executive Council, to clear bushes around the 36.7km North-East segment of Rashidi Ladoja Ibadan Circular Road.
The state Commissioner for Public Work and Transport, Daud Sangodoyin, announced this after the council’s meeting, held at the Governor’s Office in Ibadan, the state capital.
It was reported that thousands of residents were rendered homeless in March 2024 as the government implemented 500-metre corridors of circular roads.
The implementation of the 500-meter corridor on both sides of the circular roads cut across at least five Local Government Areas of the state namely, Ona Ara; Akinyele; Egbeda; Oluyole as well and Ido respectively.
Sangodoyin said the new phase of the project, which would complement the completed South-East segment of the road will last for six months.
“The project which runs from the Badeku axis to the Moniya axis includes 150metres width bush clearing through the 36.7km length, removal of topsoil, construction of selected culverts, and limited provision of earthworks among others. A sum of N3.5 billion has been approved for this purpose,” the commissioner said.
The commissioner also added that the government had approved the renovation and remodeling of the Governor’s Lodge and State Liaison Office at Ikeja, Lagos State which has been abandoned.
Sangodoyin said the project would cost the sum of ₦322,134,999.05 for three months.
He added that the council had approved the reconstruction of the 0.5km Mapo roundabout to Oritamerin road in Ibadan at the sum of ₦373,809,539.41.
In a related development, Governor Seyi Makinde has approved the regularisation and integration of 129 floating staff members of the defunct Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme into the mainstream of the state civil service.
He said, “The reabsorbed 129 staff would henceforth enjoy their promotions and other entitlements for civil servants. The governor, by this action, is being consistent with his attitude of empathy for the civil servants who have procedural, legal or other issues with the system.”
Also, the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Musibau Babatunde, said the state council had approved the sum of ₦691,307,39.86 to be invested in Wema Bank Right Issuance Program.
“Many states are preoccupied with obtaining loans whereas Oyo is one of the rare states that are investing for the future of the state. This investment will help the government to prepare and secure the financial future of the state.”
Babatunde also disclosed that the council had approved the sum of N10 billion facility to provide counterpart funding for World Bank-assisted projects in the state.
He said the funding would assist the government as a marching grant to access some of the World Bank programs which are focused on the socioeconomic wellbeing of residents of the state.
