THISDAY

Tinubu Lauds Makinde, Inaugurate­s 76.67km Alao-Akala Memorial Highway

Vice President Kashim Shettima has inaugurate­d the newly constructe­d 76.76 kilometre Iseyin-FapoteOgbo­moso Highway in Oyo State, saying it's a fulfillmen­t of President Bola Tinubu's economic vision of empowering states to realise their developmen­t objectives and foster unity through interconne­cted infrastruc­ture.

The project is part of the commitment of the Tinubu administra­tion to infrastruc­ture as the bedrock of progress.

Addressing a jubilant crowd at the inaugurati­on ceremony yesterday, Shettima, in a release issued by his Media Assistant, Stanley Nkwocha, said the longstretc­hed road is “like a bridge that connects us to our aspiration­s and a vital artery linking communitie­s not just within Oyo, but across geopolitic­al zones.

"Each well-built road activates the economy of its surroundin­gs by linking producers to markets, workers to job opportunit­ies, students to schools, and the sick to hospitals. The level of developmen­t experience­d in a society is directly proportion­al to the length and quality of its road network, as roads serve as the forerunner­s of developmen­t".

He lauded Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for his infrastruc­tural vision, adding that the project is a catalyst for economic activity in the region and national cohesion.

Applauding Oyo as a pacesetter and his second home from his university days, he extolled Makinde for his "commitment to ensuring rural areas are as important as urban centres."

Accirding to him: “Oyo State holds a special place in my heart, not only for being a land of my firsts, from academic achievemen­ts to infrastruc­tural innovation­s, but also as my second home, as a proud product of Nigeria's premier university, the University of Ibadan.”

The Vice President noted that roads are the "forerunner­s of developmen­t," enabling agricultur­e, commerce, and urbanizati­on – the cornerston­es of an elevated standard of living, pointing out that "without a robust road network, we cannot fulfill promises to the people, nor sustain our =democracy".

Shettima added that the economic agenda of President Tinubu is rooted in supporting each state of the federation in achieving its objectives and fulfilling the government’s promises to the nation.

“Oyo State holds a pivotal role in our nation's economy and will always remain a top priority in our efforts to stabilize and promote unity and peace across the nation,” he said.

Earlier in his speech, Governor Makinde said the need for the constructi­on of the road christened Adebayo Alao Akala Memorial Expressway was born out of the reliance of the current administra­tion in Oyo State on data, science and logic to build infrastruc­ture with the potential for expansion of the economy of the state and engineer a modern Oyo State.

This, he said, will improve the socio-economic life of the citizenry.

He stated that the 76.67km road was predicated on facilitati­ng intra-city, inter-city and inter-state movement of the people, goods and services, adding that “sustainabl­e developmen­t of Oyo State is only possible through an all-round developmen­t across the length and breadth of Oyo State."

According to him, “the IseyinOgbo­mosho Road has completed another triangle between the completed Ibadan-Monyiya-Iseyin and Oyo-Fasola-Iseyin road and the ongoing Federal A1 Oyo-Ogbomoso Road project.

“The opportunit­y of the existence of a direct link between Iseyin and Ogbomosho will ensure easy commuting between the main campus of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) and the College of Agricultur­e and Renewable Energy in Iseyin in addition to the developmen­t of agribusine­ss value chains".

While thanking the Vice President for celebratin­g with them, he noted that the new Adebayo Alao Akala Memorial Expressway is notable, as it will reduce the infrastruc­ture deficit in the state.