News
We’re constructing good road networks to stem rural-urban migration – Says Makinde
Oyo State Governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, has reassured that his administration will continue to fulfill its mandate to the people in every way, stating that part of that mandate is the ongoing massive infrastructure revolution in the state.
The governor maintained that his administration is embarking on the delivery of massive road infrastructure to expand the economy of the state.
Governor Makinde, who stated these at the Asipa Junction, Behind the Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, in Atiba Local Government, Oyo Town, shortly before the commissioning of the 5.25 kilometres Gedu-Oroki-Sabo-Asipa Road, equally said that the government is also building good road networks and inter-connectivity outside Ibadan, the state capital, to stem the tide of rural-urban migration.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor was joined by his Bauchi State counterpart, Senator Bala Mohammed, to commission the 5.25km road project.
Governor Bala, who was the special guest of honour at the event, congratulated Makinde for standing by his people, describing him as being passionate about the development of Oyo State.
He added that the Oyo State governor, a tested technocrat, came into government with a plan and that the plan has been about using available resources to improve the lot of his people.
The governor, who also lauded the people of the state for supporting Makinde, said he was excited that governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have been living up to the expectations of the people.
Mohammed said: “I am indeed honoured to be in Oyo State by the invitation of my friend and brother, GSM. I bring to you the warm regards of our people in Bauchi state.
“ I am very delighted to be here today. Oyo is a centre of civilisation. If you look at our inter-relationship as a nation; between various partners in the Nigerian project, Oyo is the centre of everything. The relationship between Northern Nigeria, where I came from and the Yorubaland, is incubated under the auspices of our leaders in history, from Alaafin of Oyo, down to Ogbomoso.
“So, I congratulate the people of Oyo State for electing a man, who is showing that Oyo State is the centre of civilisation. He has become the centre-point of our reference point as governors, as he came into governance with a plan. He is using the available resources to improve the quality of life of the people.
“I could not wait to come to Oyo, because we had been hearing and seeing what the governor is doing. In terms of infrastructure and poverty alleviation, why were they not done before? Where is the money now coming from? These are the questions the new generation of Nigerians should be asking.”
Mohammed also hailed Makinde for providing leadership in the PDP, describing him as a mesmerising leader, who has been stabilising the party across states in the South-West.
Governor Makinde, while speaking at the official commissioning ceremony, said that his administration will continue to fulfil its mandate to the people of Oyo State in small ways and big ways.
Makinde, who appreciated Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, for honouring the state with his presence, said he is elated to see that Oyo residents are happy with the project being delivered.
“Just about three months ago, we were here to officially flag off the 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin Road. I am sure everyone can see the work is going on well. As we speak, the project has reached Fashola Farms.
“When people hear that this road is 5.2 kilometres, they might say, oh, it is a small road. But when you look at the people who came out today to celebrate this small road, you will realise how important it is to them.
“This Gedu-Oroki-Sabo-Asipa Road links Oyo West and Atiba Local Government Areas in Oyo. It also links the North-South Federal A1 road, route 2, connecting Oyo-Iseyin and Ogbomoso-Iseyin Roads.
“So, it might be small to some, but to our people here in Oyo, is it small? No. So, we will continue to fulfil our mandate to our people, in small ways and big ways. Part of that mandate is to stem rural-urban migration by ensuring good road network and interconnectivity outside Ibadan Zone.
“Very soon, in fact, in the next two months, we will be counting three years in office. And we will be presenting our scorecard. The good thing is that our scorecard is not hidden. In road construction alone, we have over 550 kilometres of roads, both completed and ongoing.
“We have successfully laid the proper foundation for engineering a modern Oyo State. As we have said repeatedly, we believe that anywhere that roads go, development follows.
“And so, when we promised that we would move the good people of Oyo State from poverty to prosperity, we knew that a lot of our plans would be hinged on creating a viable road network through rehabilitations, reconstructions and constructions.
“So far, we have done a lot of work around the Oke-Ogun-Oyo-Ibadan axis. And we are seeing how much development this has brought in less than three years. Development means that more businesses are seeing Oyo State open up, and they are coming to site their companies here.
“When these companies come here, they pay taxes. And so, we have been able to raise our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by a record N15 billion in two years.
“More recently, we are expanding the road network and linking Oke-Ogun to Ogbomoso through the Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso Road. This 76.7-kilometre road will serve the same purpose as the Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road – providing a vital link between two zones.”
Governor Makinde declared that his government will move to the Ibarapa zone of the state, stating that the administration has no intention of leaving any zone behind in terms of development.
“We have a message for our people in Ibarapa Zone. We are coming for you! Yes, we did not forget you. In our bid to engineer a modern Oyo State, the people of Ibarapa will not be left out.
“We have reawarded the reconstruction of the 58km Omi Adio-Ido-Eruwa Road. Also, we have approved the limited rehabilitation of the Igboora-Igangan-Iganna Road while the reconstruction of the Isaba-Ogundoyin Road, Eruwa is currently ongoing.
“We did not come into government without a plan. We knew what we wanted to accomplish, and I am happy that you are all seeing a modern Oyo State develop before your very eyes. An Oyo State where no zone is left behind in our development plan. An Oyo State we can all be proud of,” Makinde added.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works, Public Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin, said the 5.25 kilometres road was expanded from 8m to 12.3m, with 7.3m carriageway and 2.5m shoulder on each side of the carriageway.
He added that the project was funded through the Alternative Project Funding Approach on a build, design and finance basis.
In his welcome address, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, who spoke on behalf of Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, commended Makinde for delivering the landmark project.
Similarly, former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu, hailed Governor Makinde for not letting the Oyo State electorate down, stating that the ongoing developments in the state indictated that the governor has the interest of the people at heart.
She added that on behalf of the Alaafin and all Oyo residents, she would assure the governor of the support of Oyo people at the appropriate time.
The event was attended by the Alaafin of Oyo; the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Festus Alao as well as top government functionaries in Oyo State.
The Minister-designate for Power, Joseph Olasunkanmi Tegbe, has firmly clarified that he never promised to fix Nigeria’s national electricity grid within three months, describing such claims circulating in sections of the media as a misrepresentation of his Senate screening remarks.
A statement issued after his appearance before the Senate stressed that Tegbe was deliberate and cautious in his presentation, avoiding unrealistic timelines while outlining a structured reform pathway for the power sector.
According to the clarification, Tegbe explained that while Nigerians can expect early signs of progress, particularly in grid stabilisation within his first 100 days in office, comprehensive reforms will be guided strictly by technical assessments, stakeholder consultations, and sector realities.
He noted that critical challenges such as gas supply constraints, metering gaps, infrastructure decay, and commercial inefficiencies require coordinated interventions that cannot be resolved through arbitrary timelines.
“My commitment to this distinguished chamber and to Nigerians is clear: we will deliver visible and measurable improvement in the power sector,” Tegbe stated during the screening.
He assured that his focus would include stabilising the national grid, modernising transmission and distribution infrastructure, strengthening commercial frameworks, and enforcing accountability across the electricity value chain.
On tariff policy, the minister-designate reaffirmed that reforms would be carefully designed to balance sustainability with social protection, ensuring that vulnerable households are shielded while also restoring investor confidence in the sector.
The statement further emphasised that Tegbe’s approach reflects discipline, technical understanding, and a reform-minded agenda aimed at delivering lasting solutions rather than short-term political promises.
It added that he remains open to responsible media engagement and constructive clarification where necessary, noting that accurate reporting is essential to public understanding of ongoing efforts to reposition Nigeria’s power sector.
Tegbe reaffirmed his readiness to lead a transparent, results-driven reform process anchored on accountability, realism, and measurable progress.
A grand cultural renaissance celebrating the enduring legacy of legendary Yoruba war hero and statesman, Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, will take centre stage as the 2026 edition of Ogedengbe Fiesta holds from July 29 to 31 across Osun State and Ekiti State.
The three-day heritage festival, unveiled by organisers on Wednesday, is themed, “Ogedengbe Agbogungboro Legacy: Leadership, Security, and Statecraft for Modern Governance in Nigeria.”
The event is designed to preserve Yoruba cultural heritage, deepen historical consciousness, promote tourism and stimulate national conversations on leadership, peacebuilding and governance.
According to the organisers, the fiesta will commence with traditional homage at Atorin and heritage excursions to notable Kiriji War historical sites in Imesi-Ile, where participants will relive significant moments in Yoruba military and political history.
The programme will also feature guided visits to the historic Ogedengbe Cave, Ibu Latoosa Site and the Yoruba Peace Treaty Grove, all regarded as symbolic monuments of Yoruba resilience, diplomacy and unity.
As part of activities lined up for the celebration, participants will tour the gardens of renowned legal icon and elder statesman, Afe Babalola, in Okemesi-Ekiti.
The organisers further disclosed that a Legacy Awards and Hall of Fame Investiture ceremony would hold in Ilesa to honour individuals who have contributed immensely to the promotion of Yoruba culture, leadership and community development.
A distinguished personality lecture in honour of Aare Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, and Arole Fabunmi of Okemesi-Ekiti is also expected to headline the event, with scholars, traditional rulers, cultural enthusiasts and public intellectuals billed to discuss pathways to strengthening governance and security through indigenous values and historical lessons.
The organisers noted that all activities would commence daily by 11am, adding that the festival would serve as a rallying point for lovers of Yoruba culture, history and tourism across Nigeria and beyond.
They described the fiesta as not only a celebration of the heroic exploits of Ogedengbe Agbogungboro, but also a strategic platform to inspire a new generation of leaders through the ideals of courage, unity, patriotism and visionary leadership.
The Federal Government on Tuesday ruled out any plan to reinstate fuel subsidy despite worsening economic hardship and mounting public pressure.
The Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, stated this in Paris, France, during a meeting with global investors alongside President Bola Tinubu.
Oyedele said the government would also not introduce price controls, stressing that market forces remain the preferred mechanism for determining petrol prices.
“We will not bring back fuel subsidy because it creates distortions for the economy, and we won’t introduce price control because we believe in the market,” he said.
The minister argued that the subsidy regime had long undermined economic efficiency, adding that emerging global energy shifts, including developments in Iran, present fresh investment opportunities for Nigeria.
The removal of petrol subsidy in May 2023 triggered a steep rise in inflation, worsening the country’s cost-of-living crisis.
Nigeria’s headline inflation climbed from 22.41 per cent in May 2023 to 34.19 per cent by June 2024 — its highest level in nearly two decades — driven by surging fuel, food, and transportation costs.
Food inflation further accelerated, exceeding 39 per cent by October 2024, while transport fares soared by nearly 300 per cent, compounded by currency devaluation.
Despite the economic strain, Tinubu defended the policy, saying it had stabilised the foreign exchange market.
“Subsidy that was a burden to the entire country was removed, and ever since we have achieved FX stability,” the President said, according to his Special Assistant on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.
In a related statement, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the administration’s reforms were aimed at eliminating structural distortions, strengthening macroeconomic stability, and laying the foundation for inclusive growth.
He added that the government remained committed to fiscal discipline and transparency.
Highlighting economic progress, Oyedele disclosed that Nigeria recorded an 11.2 per cent growth in Gross Domestic Product in dollar terms in 2025, describing it as a major step towards the country’s ambition of building a $1tn economy by 2030.
He also pledged that the government would begin publishing quarterly financial reports to enhance accountability and public trust.
Also speaking, the Director-General of the Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha, assured investors of Nigeria’s commitment to prudent borrowing and sustainable debt management.
The Federal Government has continued to defend its reform agenda despite growing public discontent, insisting that the long-term gains will outweigh the current economic pains.
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