Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde has disclosed his administration’s readiness to begin the construction of 1,000 kilometres of rural roads to aid farming and movement of farm produce from rural areas to the city centres.
The governor stated that the farm roads would be constructed under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP), with the procurement process already completed and mobilisation to sites expected in the coming weeks.
He also said he had given the go-ahead to the 33 local government areas to grade 30 kilometres of road each.
Makinde stated this while speaking at a special plenary sitting to mark the first anniversary of the 10th Assembly and presentation of a state-of-the-state-address, held at the Oyo State House of Assembly Complex, Agodi, Ibadan.
Speaking about road construction, Makinde said, “Our template has been very simple. We felt that we should connect all our zones first.
“If we can go from Zone A to Zone B and to Zone C, then, 50 per cent of our problems would have been solved. After that, we could start fixing the inner road.
“Of course, now we have started with Ibadan inner roads. We also have the RAAMP under which 1,000 kilometres of rural farm roads are going to be constructed and I think we are almost done with the procurement process and we should see mobilisation to sites soon.
“Also, I have already given a nod for the implementation for about 30 kilometres of road per local government. They should go ahead and do it, as we have given the nod. The money is sitting in the account of each local government area.”
The governor, who appreciated members of the House of Assembly and the people of Oyo State for their support for the administration and contributions to the growth of the state’s economy, said the Internally generated revenue (IGR) of the state increased from N4.2bn in 2023 to N4.95bn in the first quarter of 2024.
Earlier, the speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, said the assembly has, in the last one year, worked tirelessly to review and pass important legislations, debated critical issues, and represented their constituents with dedication.
He commended the lawmakers for their high level of commitment and patriotism to the welfare of the people of Oyo State and their collaboration with the executive arm of government in its quest to transform and re-engineer the state.
