By Adekola Afolabi

Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has commenced the reconstruction of over 35 kilometers network of roads in Akure, the state capital.

According to the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Raimi Aminu, the roads being reconstructed are existing roads built by the government several years ago and are already in bad shapes with potholes and failed sections within the town.

Speaking during an unscheduled inspection visit on Thursday, the Commissioner appreciated Governor Akeredolu for his unwavering commitment to road infrastructure in the state.

He said the Governor’s efforts on infrastructural development has eased the suffering of the people, despite scarce resources.

Some of the roads being asphalted are the five kilometers Oba-Ile Housing Estate which links four other Estates including Grace Land, Bethel Estate, God’s Own Land and Grace Garden with SIB, and the two kilometers Araromi to Don Bosco road in Akure.

Aminu, who noted that government is currently working on about 21 roads in the First Phase, assured that everybody will have a taste of good governance under the Governor Akeredolu administration.

He, however, urged the residents to take ownership of any government project in their areas and avoid actions that could cause damage on the roads.

The Commissioner explained that the Governor was able to continue his stride in infrastructure development because of his leadership qualities and uncommon passion for the development of the state.

He said:”A couple of months ago, we received several letters and complaints about bad portions of township roads, potholes, and failed sections within the town.

“We forwarded those letters and complaints to Mr Governor for approval after we have summarized the report and everything. And after our defence Mr Governor graciously approved it.

“Everybody knows government is working on infrastructure massively; we are constructing new roads, and despite that, we will not abandon the inherited ones because we have discovered that majority of our existing roads are bad.

“So, based on that, Mr Governor has graciously approved over 35 kilometers length of roads for maintenance as a  Phase A. Oba-Ile Housing Estate road network which is about five kilometers is one of the roads. We are doing asphalt overlay now; they have done patching, maintenance and repair of drain. Few days ago they primed the surface.

 “Before now we promised to look into the road, and today you can see the level of completion and what the government is doing here.

“We also have other roads in the town. We started from Mother-and-Child road, Champion to Fanibi, Agagu road, Aule road, Araromi to Don Bosco, Araromi to Stadium. We are working on Adegbola to Leo too. And what we are doing is that we will maintain, patch and repair drains where necessary, and do complete overlay. So, we are giving new roads.

“With this, within the next couple of years there won’t be any maintenance because we discover that the lifespan of most of these roads has expired.

“So, we are working on about 21 roads as First Phase. After Araromi to Don Bosco, we are moving to Stadium and to Otemirun Avenue down to Edo Lodge, Iyeoma to Bishop’s Court, CBN to ShopRite Oda Road, to Sijuade and a lot more.

“Infrastructure is the bedrock of all development in the state. With this now, everybody is happy, the residents are happy and we thank God,” the Commissioner added.