Amanze Chinonye
Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to inclusive development across all parts of the state, promising that ongoing road and infrastructure projects will extend to all communities across the three senatorial districts.
Speaking at a town hall meeting in Ifo on Tuesday, October 28, 2025, the governor said his government was determined to make Ogun “a modern, connected, and prosperous state,” amid growing public criticism over the poor condition of major roads and alleged neglect of key industrial corridors.
The governor’s comments come after mounting outrage from residents, religious leaders, and civic groups, who accused his administration of failing to deliver visible results despite being in office for six years.
Join our WhatsApp Channel“We have consistently maintained that no part of Ogun State will be left behind in our ongoing drive for inclusive and balanced development,” Abiodun said. “Our administration is currently executing infrastructure projects that cut across the three senatorial districts, ensuring that every community benefits from our vision.”
Abiodun highlighted ongoing work on four major highways in the Ifo–Sango Ota–Idiroko axis, including the 140-kilometre Abeokuta–Lagos Expressway, which the state is rehabilitating despite its federal status. He added that the Sango–Idiroko Road was under active construction, while the government had completed over 22 kilometres linking Ijoko, Agbado, and Alagbole. The 24-kilometre Ota–Itele–Lafenwa Road, he said, has already been captured in the proposed 2026 state budget.
The governor urged residents to disregard what he called “politically motivated misinformation,” insisting that many of the bad roads were inherited from previous administrations.
“We recognize the people’s right to demand the dividends of democracy,” he said. “But we urge residents to be wary of those who seek to mislead the public for political gain. The truth is that many of these roads were in deplorable condition long before we came into office in 2019, and we have since turned several of them into active construction sites with visible progress.”
Ogun Government Defends Performance
In a follow-up statement, the governor’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, reaffirmed that the government was working on four major highways in the Ifo–Sango Ota–Idiroko axis. He also listed completed road projects across Ifo and Ado-Odo/Ota local government areas as proof of ongoing efforts.
According to Akinmade, completed roads include the Atan–Lusada–Marogbo Toll Road (19.2km), Akute–Denro–Ishasi Road (4.8km), Sango Ota–Oke Aro–Ojodu Abiodun Road (Phase 1 & 6), Olusegun Osoba–Toyin–Agbado Road (2.4km), and Ajulo–Akute Road (3km), among others.
He clarified that the Ota–Itele–Lafenwa stretch, which has been at the centre of public outrage, was already incorporated into the 2026 budget “long before the social media hoopla.”
“The area being mostly complained about the Ota–Itele–Lafenwa stretch had been incorporated into the 2026 budget long before the social media hoopla,” Akinmade said. “This is a confirmation of Governor Abiodun’s determination to spread development to every nook and cranny of the state as fast as time and resources allow.”
Akinmade further emphasized that the government was fixing both federal and state roads, citing the Abeokuta–Lagos Expressway and Sango–Idiroko Road, both of which fall under federal jurisdiction, as examples of the administration’s proactive approach.
He also dismissed claims that some areas had been deliberately neglected, describing such allegations as “mischief by opposition politicians.”
“The roads in question, like many others in the Sango–Ota axis, had been in deplorable states long before the coming of Governor Abiodun. They are part of the huge infrastructure deficit inherited by this administration in 2019,” the statement read.
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Clergy Joins Outcry
Adding a new twist to the public uproar, the leader of the United Church of Nigeria joined in condemning the poor state of roads across Ogun State, in a viral video widely shared on social media.
According to Prime Business Africa, The clergyman said Governor Abiodun must be held accountable to the people who elected him, stressing that the condition of Ogun roads had become “a moral and spiritual disgrace.”
“The governor must complete at least 60 percent of the bad roads in Ogun State before he leaves office,” the church leader declared. “We are giving him two months to begin visible work, especially on the Mopol Junction road which connects Aiyetoro–Lafenwa and Ayobo–Ipaja. There are over one hundred such roads in Ogun State.” Prime Business Africa reports.
He warned that if nothing was done by the end of the year, the People Of Ogun State would petition the Governor before the Ogun State House of Assembly, the EFCC, and the ICPC, and would also “report him to God.”
The clergyman, who noted that some of Nigeria’s largest churches including the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Winners Chapel, and Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries are headquartered in Ogun State, described the situation as “wickedness of the highest order.”
“This is wickedness, wickedness of the highest order,” he said emphatically.
Public Reactions on X (Formerly Twitter)
Despite the government’s assurances, reactions from citizens on X have been largely critical.
A user, @asiwajuautos1, posted: “Mr Governor, nobody is misleading the public. This is Lambe Road – how is this misleading? You’ve been in office for six years, allocations have tripled, and nothing has changed. This is wickedness.”
Another, @yeankhar, said: “You’ve spent six years and you’re still labeling those demanding good roads as political opponents. It’s embarrassing. People will continue to demand until they see progress. Do your job.”
Similarly, @UnkleAyo accused the administration of budgeting repeatedly for the same projects without execution, writing: “You’ve presented budgets for these roads year after year since 2019 but didn’t fix them. Now they’re in the 2026 budget, one year before you leave office?”
Growing Skepticism
According to figures from the Ogun State Ministry of Works, the Abiodun administration has completed over 500 kilometres of roads since 2019. However, this represents only a fraction of the state’s estimated 5,000-kilometre network, much of which remains in disrepair despite increased federal allocations and higher internally generated revenue.
With the dry season approaching a key period for road construction many residents say they will be watching closely to see whether Governor Abiodun’s renewed assurances and government clarifications finally result in visible progress on the ground.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
