ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)- The Egba Economic Summit Group has urged the Federal Government to prioritise the prompt and high-quality completion of the Idi-Aba–Abeokuta–Obafemi–Ajebo link road, which connects to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, describing the project as vital to Ogun State’s economy and regional connectivity.
In a letter addressed to the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and signed by the President of the Egba Economic Summit Group, Gbenga Adeoye, the group cautioned that prolonged delays and declining construction quality could erode the anticipated economic gains of the project.
Adeoye explained that the group considered it a duty to draw the government’s attention to economically significant projects “where execution is slow, stagnant or sometimes not even conceived.”
According to the group, work on the Idi-Aba–Abeokuta–Obafemi–Ajebo link road has progressed unsatisfactorily, particularly along the section running through the Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, and the Ogun State Television (OGTV) corridor.
The summit group specifically appealed to the minister to ensure that construction standards do not fall once the road leaves Abeokuta city.
“We request that you ensure the designed standard is not lowered after the segment that passed through Abeokuta City, especially in areas that passed through villages,” Adeoye stated.
“Contractors have a way of dropping standards after leaving the main city, thereby reducing durability in some parts of the road.”
The group expressed concern that the project, which was awarded during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, has dragged on for several years without timely completion.
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It noted that while the stretch between the Federal Medical Centre and Chrisland University appears motorable, road conditions worsen shortly afterwards, making it difficult for motorists to navigate.
Adeoye, however, commended the Federal Government for ongoing road infrastructure initiatives under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Badagry-Sokoto Road corridor passing through Abeokuta and the night repairs on the Sango-Abeokuta Road.
“We appreciate your good works in all highlighted above,” Adeoye said, stressing that the summit group remains a non-partisan organisation committed to economic development.
The group also raised concerns about the effect of the stalled road project on the newly established Federal University of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Abeokuta, whose permanent 170-hectare campus is located along the route at Ajibayo Village.
“There is no way they can move from their current temporary site to that location if that road construction remains abandoned, stagnant, or slow,” Adeoye warned.
It further noted that the road serves as a key alternative route to the old Ibadan-Abeokuta Road through Apata, Bakatari, Ilugun and Odeda to Adatan, a role that has become more critical due to increasing traffic pressure on existing routes.
The summit group added that the link road could significantly boost economic activity along the Obafemi-Ajebo axis by redirecting traffic at Owojo through Oyebola to Alapako-Oni, thereby fostering an industrial hub around Ajebo and neighbouring communities such as Erunwon, Abiona Mosafejo and Olosun.
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It also stated that the road could help ease congestion on the Ogere axis of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway by offering travellers between Ibadan and Abeokuta an alternative route that bypasses the Abeokuta-Sagamu Interchange.
Lamenting the current state of the road, the group said excavations had made driving conditions worse, noting that the route was previously a smooth and shorter alternative to Ibadan when it was constructed during the administration of former Ogun State Governor, Olusegun Osoba.
“Excavation done on the road has now made life very difficult for motorists, whereas it was a smooth drive-through as well as a shortcut to Ibadan,” the ESG president said.
Adeoye called for urgent intervention, stressing that completing the road would have “a direct positive impact on the economy of Egbaland, Ogun State, and Nigeria as a whole.”
The group disclosed that copies of the letter had been sent to prominent traditional rulers and leaders in Egbaland, including the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; the Osile of Oke Ona, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso; the Olowu of Owu Kingdom, Oba (Prof) Saka Adelola Matemilola; former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba; and the Babalaje of Egbaland, Chief Olusegun Osunkeye.
The summit group expressed optimism that the Ministry of Works would ensure adequate funding for the completion of the road and other ongoing highway projects across the country.