President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate redesign, reconstruction and dualisation of the 70-kilometre Ibadan–Abeokuta Road, alongside 15 other critical road projects across the South-West, in what is being described as a major Federal Government intervention in the region’s long-standing infrastructure deficit.
The development was disclosed during the August 24, 2026 flag-off ceremony of the 56.5-kilometre Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode Road, a project valued at approximately N297 billion. The Federal Government said the Ibadan–Ijebu-Ode corridor is strategically important because it connects Oyo and Ogun states while providing an important route towards the Lagos–Ogun economic axis and the wider South-West.
Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, disclosed that President Tinubu had directed the immediate reconstruction and dualisation of the Ibadan–Abeokuta Road, with the procurement process already underway. Reports from the ceremony also indicate that the administration is pursuing a broader programme of major road interventions across the South-West, with emphasis on durable infrastructure and improved project delivery.
For communities along the Abeokuta–Ibadan corridor, the announcement represents the potential culmination of years of advocacy for a road that has remained a major concern to residents, commuters, businesses and traditional institutions.
The road is not merely a transportation route. It is an important economic connection between two major cities and serves numerous communities whose commercial and social activities depend heavily on the corridor. Its reconstruction is therefore expected to improve movement, strengthen regional trade and create new opportunities for communities that have endured years of difficult road conditions.
The campaign for the rehabilitation of the road was strongly championed by the Egba Heritage Foundation, in collaboration with ZENTS FM 90.9, with stakeholders engaging relevant authorities and drawing attention to the historical and economic importance of the corridor.
Letters and petitions were sent to the Chief of Staff to the President, the Minister of Works and the Minister of Finance, while extensive interviews with opinion leaders across Ogun and Oyo states were undertaken to keep the issue in the public consciousness and demonstrate the urgency of government intervention.
The campaign also received the backing of traditional institutions, community organisations and prominent political figures who recognised the road as a vital link to the development of Ogun Central and surrounding communities.
Particular appreciation goes to His Majesty, the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu IV, as well as Egba chiefs, clubs and distinguished senators who supported efforts towards securing the Federal Government's attention to the project.
If successfully executed, the reconstruction could bring renewed economic activity to communities including Olokemeji, Orile Ilugun, Apitipiti, Olodo, Kila, Odeda and Eruwa, among others, by improving accessibility, reducing transportation difficulties and creating a more reliable corridor for farmers, traders, manufacturers and other businesses.
The wider Federal Government road programme also includes several major corridors across the South-West. Umahi said Oyo State currently had 17 major road projects out of 47 Federal Government projects being undertaken across the region. He also highlighted the Oyo–Ogbomoso and Oyo–Ibadan corridors among projects receiving attention.
For ZENTS FM 90.9, the development is therefore not simply another government announcement; it is a moment of satisfaction after sustained advocacy on behalf of communities whose concerns have been repeatedly presented to the authorities.
ZENTS FM particularly appreciates the listening ear of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, who, according to the station, took several calls from its CEO and listened to the historical background of the Egba people and their journey from the Egba Forest to Abeokuta.
The expectation now is clear: the approval must translate into construction.
For the people of Ogun Central and communities along the corridor, the long-awaited reconstruction represents more than asphalt, concrete and engineering works. It represents connectivity, commerce, mobility and the possibility of unlocking economic opportunities in communities that have waited for meaningful Federal Government intervention for decades.
The people have spoken. Advocacy has been sustained. The approval has now come.
The next chapter is delivery.
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