Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde and his Osun State counterpart, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, have concluded plans to jointly rehabilitate and reconstruct the Iwo Road interchange- to Ogunremako Junction-Lalupon, down to Iwo-Osogbo road.
The road is a major link between the neighbouring South-West states.
The Commissioners for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport in Oyo State, Professor Daud Kehinde Sangodoyin and his Osun State counterpart, Engr. Oluremi Omowaiye, who jointly announced the historic collaboration on Monday, at a press conference said the development would enhance the quality of lives of the people.
They stated that a section of the road belongs to the Federal Government, while other parts belong to the states, adding that the Federal Government has been notified of the impending construction.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted Sangodoyin as explaining that Oyo State will handle 29.2 kilometres of the over 80 kilometres road project.
He also noted that Oyo State will take care of the section from the Iwo Road Interchange, Ibadan, to the boundary with Osun State, while Osun State will handle rest to Osogbo.
He said: “On the authority of Governor ‘Seyi Makinde and Governor Gboyega Oyetola, we are here to address the press on the joint collaboration of the proposed rehabilitation; reconstruction and overlaying of Iwo Road interchange road to Ogunremako junction, down to Lalupon, which is the boundary between Osun and Oyo States.
“On the other end of Osun State, we have the Iwo boundary down to Osogbo, which is about 69km. From the side of Oyo State, it is about 29.2km.
“The two state governors, their directors and commissioners in charge of works and transport have met and did a joint inspection of the road for the benefit of our people, and for us to be able to award the contract.”
“Also, we looked at security around that axis. By the time we reduce the infrastructure deficit around that axis, we would have improved on the security infrastructure, because, as I speak now, the road from Iwo down to Olodo is nothing to write home about.
“If we are able to cooperate with Osun State, we will be able to improve the security infrastructure.
In his remarks, the Osun State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Omowaiye, said that the Osun State government will handle 54.4km of the road that borders Oyo and Osun States.
The duo added that Oyo and Osun governments would meet again to deliberate on modalities of executing the project, amount to spend, duration and the contractor that would handle the project.
