Why We’re Prioritising Road Development in Ogun – Gov. Abiodun

Economic importance determines priority
…I won’t be distracted by rhetorics – Governor

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has explained that his administration’s strong focus on road infrastructure across the state is driven by the economic importance of roads and their role in improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

Speaking in Abeokuta, the state capital, Governor Abiodun said his government’s approach to road development was based on careful planning, consultation, and economic considerations rather than political sentiments.

He noted that when he assumed office, Ogun had the longest network of federal, state, and local government roads—many of which were in deplorable condition. According to him, his administration engaged stakeholders across the state to identify and prioritize roads with the greatest economic value.

“We consulted widely to determine the roads that hold the highest economic importance to Ogun State. Roads connecting our state to neighboring states, as well as those linking farms to markets, have received our attention,” he said.

The governor emphasized that his administration has reconstructed virtually all major expressways linking Ogun State to Lagos and other adjoining states.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we have reconstructed every major expressway connecting Ogun to Lagos and other neighboring states. Is it the Agbara–Atan–Lusada road that was once impassable or the Epe–Ijebu-Ode road that used to take hours?

Today, the Epe–Ijebu-Ode road takes just about 12 minutes and it’s now a world-class expressway. Between Epe and Ijebu-Ode, we even have two adjoining roads—one built by us and another facilitated through Dangote’s tax credit initiative,” he explained.

Abiodun disclosed that his administration is also reconstructing the Lagos–Ota–Abeokuta Expressway, regarded as the second busiest road in the country.

“We met that road in a terrible state, neglected for years by previous administrations. But we recognized its huge economic value and fought to take it over from the federal government. Today, reconstruction is ongoing between the Interchange and Papalanto, using reinforced concrete, in partnership with the private sector under the tax credit scheme,” he said.

The governor also cited the reconstruction of the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway, describing it as one of the worst projects inherited by his administration.

“That road was a death trap before we intervened. It was practically asphalt laid on laterite. Many lives were lost there under the last administration,” he lamented.

Governor Abiodun, however, maintained that he would not be distracted by what he described as the “rhetorics of frustrated politicians” who are bent on discrediting his administration’s achievements.

“We will continue to remain focused despite the sponsored noise from some naysayers.

I am not one to respond to baseless criticisms. This is not politics; this is governance. I am the Governor of Ogun State, and I know exactly what I’m doing,” he declared.

He added that some former political leaders who failed to deliver during their time are now sponsoring false narratives online to mislead the public.

“Some of our former governors didn’t know what they were doing. Now they see real governance in action and instead of commending, they resort to cheap political talk. But performance is undeniable. You can sponsor all the social media campaigns you want, but people can see what we are doing on the ground,” he said.

The governor revealed that his administration has completed or is working on nearly 1,500 kilometers of roads, describing the achievement as unprecedented in the history of Ogun State.

“The roads we are fixing did not deteriorate after I became governor; we inherited them in that condition. But we are fixing them because excuses don’t build infrastructure,” he added.

Beyond road projects, Governor Abiodun also highlighted the construction of the Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport, which aligns with the state’s multi-modal transport master plan.

“We built the best airport in Nigeria today—fully equipped and operational. Passenger flights are arriving and departing daily, and we’re now expanding to increase traffic. The airport is part of our Aerotropolis project,” he explained.

He further noted that Ogun State has become one of the fastest-growing economies in the country, with improved security and remarkable growth in internal revenue and gross domestic product (GDP).

“Ogun State today is one of the safest states in Nigeria, and our economy is the fastest growing. Our internally generated revenue has quadrupled, and our GDP has grown from ₦3.56 trillion to ₦17 trillion. So, when people criticize, you wonder what exactly they’re talking about,” he queried.

Governor Abiodun reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy to all parts of the state, stressing that development, not politics, remains his top priority.