A lawmaker representing Ogbomoso North, South, and Oriire Federal Constituency, Hon. Olamiju Alao-Akala, has raised concerns over the non-inclusion of funds for the completion of the Oyo-Ogbomoso road in the Ministry of Works’ budget.
Speaking during the ministry’s budget defense, the All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain described the road as one of the busiest routes for goods traveling between the South and North, stressing that its deplorable state required urgent attention. He questioned why the project was not captured in the budget and suggested inviting the Minister of Budget to clarify how infrastructure funds were allocated.
“When I was reviewing your proposal and considering the Oyo-Ogbomosho road, one of the busiest routes through which goods travel between the south and north, it’s clear that the road is in a deplorable state. You mentioned in your speech that you’ve written numerous proposals over the years, but I’m not sure if the committee will allow us to bring in the Minister of Budget to explain how the funds were allocated and spent. If such a critical road wasn’t captured in the budget, then it’s essential that we seriously look into it.”
In response, Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to completing the Oyo-Ogbomoso road and other critical infrastructure projects. He revealed that the project’s cost had risen from ₦84 billion to over ₦148 billion and was now awaiting approval from the Federal Executive Council (FEC).
Umahi attributed delays to a technical oversight that led to the decision to construct a brand-new dual carriageway instead of rehabilitating the existing road, significantly increasing costs and complexity. To address this, the government has adopted a phased approach, prioritizing the completion of one carriageway first.
He acknowledged funding constraints affecting road projects in Oyo State and across the country, stating that resources would be allocated to complete the first section before moving to the second.
The Oyo-Ogbomoso road remains a crucial link for commuters and businesses, and its completion is expected to ease transportation challenges in the region.
