Gov. Dapo Abiodun on Saturday said that the Ilaro-Owode road, under construction, would be completed and inaugurated in May 2022.
Abiodun, who disclosed this at the grand finale of the 2021 Orona Ilaro celebration in Ilaro, said he had ordered work to be expedited on the road to meet the completion deadline.
He added that the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure has also been directed to carry out palliative work on the Papalanto-Ilaro road.
“We are assiduously working on road projects across Yewaland and the entire Ogun West senatorial District; we are working on the Ilaro-Owode–Idiroko road, which is a federal road.
“I have ordered that work should be expedited on this road in view of its strategic importance to the economic development of this area.
“Work on the 100-km Sagamu interchange-Papalanto-Ilaro road which has been handed over to Alhaji Aliko Dangote to reconstruct through the government’s tax credit programme, will soon commence.
“The design is ready and the contractor should move to site soon. We will continue to improve our Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) programme to identify necessary funding options for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of major roads in our dear state,” he said.
The governor further hinted that work is ongoing on the Atan-Lusada-Agbara road, which leads to the heart of Ogun Industrial Estate in Agbara.
He named Imasayi-Igan Okoto-Ayetoro road, Oke Ola and Ago-Oshoffa roads as well as Oke Afa Road and bridge at Agosasa, as some of the major roads being rehabilitated in Ogun West senatorial district.
Abiodun noted that his administration is proud to identify with the people of Ilaro and Yewaland.
According to him, the Oronna Ilaro Festival has grown beyond just a celebration.
He said the festival had grown to a “convergence to reflect the collective aspiration to internalise the economic, historical and spiritual antecedents, and unity of the past heroes and leave a better legacy for the coming generations.”
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Abiodin said that the festival should serve as a motivation for communal understanding, love and unity and for augmenting steady progress, peace and development of the larger community.
The governor noted that this year’s Oronna Day was a great improvement on the previous ones.
He said the festival is meant to preserve, uphold and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of Ilaro people, as well as bring together all the sons and daughters of Ilaro at home and abroad for the development of the town.
“Oronna was the mythological hero of Ilaro people, who have become a rallying point to aggregate views, promote peace and prosperity and provide a platform for other values and virtues that he embodied while alive.
“Oronna was a selfless, altruistic, courageous and charismatic leader who distinguished himself in battles against the Dahomeans and others who were a scourge to the area at the time,” Abiodun added.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr. Toyin Taiwo, noted that the event provided an opportunity for cross fertilization of ideas for development.
He added that it was also a platform to preserve cultural heritage, which has invariably impacted on the development of Ilaro and its environs.
Speaking, Chairman, Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Adeola Olamilekan, said that the festival is an avenue for bringing sons and daughters of the town to work on its development.
He said that the renovation of the state hospital in the town is an indication that the governor is ready to give all parts of the state a sense of belonging.
The Olu of Ilaro and paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, noted that the senatorial district has been abandoned in the past as many projects were started, but not completed.
The traditional ruler stressed that infrastructure remains the major challenge in the senatorial district.
He commended Gov. Abiodun for giving Yewaland serious consideration in the scheme of things in the state.
