By Banji Ayoola
ONDO State Government and the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo, have sought the cooperation of residents of the state capital who reside along the 7.8 kilometre Hospital – Ijoka Road for the dualisation of the road, which would soon start.
The road, too narrow for the volume of traffic plying it due to the numerous feeder roads linking it, and its very strategic location, is one of the busiest and most congested roads especially at peak hours, in the state capital, and throughout the state.
For years, since the state was created in 1976, commuters have experienced on the road, traffic jams with their attendant economic and social costs.
In fact, the road is so strategic to the socioeconomic life of the state capital to the extent that hardly a week passes without a resident of Akure having to ply the road.
For instance, the road connects with the ever busy Oba Adesida Road – NEPA Market – Hospital Road junction – State Specialist Hospital, which houses most of the State High Courts and Headquarters of the State Judiciary, Kudirat Abiola Shopping Complex, the State Specialist Hospital, pharmacy stores, medical diagnostic centres, many medical laboratories, and several other shopping complexes.
Located along the road also are two mega markets, the popular NEPA market and assembly spot, Law chambers, business centres, filling stations, boutiques for wears, shops, canteens, and car wash centres among others.
Besides, it branches off to both the Ondo State and Federal Governments Secretariats, Alagbaka Housing Estate, Shoprite Mall, Sijuwade, Oluwatuyi, Oke Aro, Arakale Market, and Igbatoro among other areas with their thick human population.
This would be the first time that government would actualise the political will to widen the road to ease movement.
All the while, successive administrations had been doing cosmetic patching of the road, while congestion and the usual traffic snarl and discomfort to commuters plying the road, worsen by the day.
The town hall meeting held at the Akure Town Hall, to which Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Rt. Hon. Taofiq Abdusallam led government’s team, while the royal father and Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo led his High Chiefs and people.
The Commissioner said the purpose of the meeting was to inform the people about the planned dualisation, carry them along and seek their cooperation to ensure success.
Noting that the road is too narrow considering the upsurge in the number of people plying it, he assured that plans are already concluded, but government cannot start work without informing them.
He appealed to the people to cooperate with government to ensure the success of all developmental projects embarked upon by the current administration in the state.
He said: “We are here to let them know that government is ready. By the time the contractors move to the site, they will believe, because rumour is being spread around that the government is not ready for the dualisation. That is why we have to let them know that many buildings have been marked and numbered, while government will pay them compensations when valuation has been done.
“We have been on air and in the newspapers to let everyone know that government has not assigned anybody to be middle man, government will deal directly with the owners and negotiate with them about the value of their property. They can also use their valuers and we will compare the two.
“In case there is a family property, they should appoint one person as a representative with a letter, so that there will not be any fight.”
He said that the dualisation will start as soon as government completes all the preliminary processes, noting that the survey, markings and pegging had been done, and the next step is to write the owners of the property and do the valuation.
On his own, Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engr. Raimi Olayiwola noted that although under the law, only property with Certificate of Occupancy is to be recognised, yet the Oluwarotimi administration is magnanimous to overlook that and compensate all owners of affected property.
To avert accident during the dualisation, Raimi disclosed that the road will be constructed lane by lane and in segments due to the volume of people on the road.
He noted that dualising the road will reduce accident rate, the rate at which vehicles are damaged, enhance the productivity of workers, and also reduce urban drift.
He appealed to the Deji and the Chiefs to talk to their people to cooperate with the government and handle government’s property as theirs.
In his address, Oba Aladelusi commended the current administration for all the developmental projects executed within one year in office, including the prompt payment of salaries.
“We will keep on appreciating Arakunrin, our amiable governor. Before one year, he has started implementing laudable projects, apart from beautification. If you go to Ijoka, the place has been terribly congested, so when the government dualise it, it’s going to add more value and flexibility to the area.“
Other dignitaries at the meeting included Secretary to the State government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, Commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr Donald Ojogo, Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Engr Tunji-Light Ariyomo, Surveyor-General of the state , Surveyor Folahanmi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr Alex Aragbaye, his counterpart in Works and Infrastructure, Engr Taiwo Otun, and High Chiefs in Akure land including the Olus and prominent sons and daughters of Akure.
