Kogi State Governor, Ahmed Usman Ododo has flagged-off of construction of the 38.5-kilometre Kabba–Okeofin–Aiyede–Olle–Iluke Road in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, ending decades of neglect of the critical rural corridor that has hindered security operations and disconnected major parts of Bunu land from economic activities in the state.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Ododo described the construction of the road as a new chapter for residents who had endured over 30 years of isolation and transportation difficulties.
He recalled that his personal experience travelling on the road during a visit to the area following a security incident in Iluke-Bunu reinforced his determination to reconstruct the road stressing that the project marks a significant intervention in an area where poor road access had constrained farming, trade and movement between communities over the years.
The Governor said the intervention followed efforts by his administration to restore peace in the area, stressing that security gains must translate into tangible improvements in the lives and economic fortunes of the people.
“We came first to protect you; today we come to connect you,” he declared, explaining that the 38.5-kilometre road would improve access to markets, reduce transportation costs and facilitate the movement of agricultural produce, including yams, cassava, cashew and grains to markets within and outside Kogi State.
Governor Ododo also described the road as a bridge connecting the people of Bunu to their roots, urging indigenes living in Lagos, Abuja and other parts of the country to return home, invest and contribute to the development of their communities.
He acknowledged the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the state’s development efforts, attributing the increase in financial resources available to subnational governments to the economic reforms of the Federal Government, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy and the unification of the foreign exchange market.
According to him, the improved resources has strengthened the capacity of state governments to undertake critical infrastructure projects, describing the road as one of the dividends of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Governor called on residents, community leaders and other stakeholders to take ownership of the project, insisting that the government would closely monitor its execution to ensure quality and compliance with approved specifications.
He warned the contractor against compromising standards, noting that the people had waited for decades and deserved a road that would stand the test of time.
The Commissioner for Works, Ozigi Deedat, said the project would ease transportation, improve the movement of agricultural produce and expand access to healthcare and other essential services, in line with the
infrastructure development agenda of the administration.
He urged communities along the corridor to cooperate with the contractor and protect the project.
Similarly, the Chairman of Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, Barr Zaccheaus Dare, commended the Governor for confronting security challenges and extending infrastructure to communities, noting that improved road connectivity would create new markets, strengthen economic activities and complement security efforts in the area.
Speaking on behalf of traditional rulers, the Obaro of Kabba,His Royal Majesty, Oba Solomon Owoniyi assured the state government of the communities’ acceptance, cooperation and commitment to protecting the project, declaring that the people would take ownership of the road.
The representative of TEC Engineering Limited, Simon Xu, assured the government and residents that the company would complete the project within the stipulated timeframe and quality standards while pledging to engage local manpower to create employment opportunities for residents.
Other stakeholders at the ceremony described the road as a long-awaited intervention that would change the economic fortunes of communities along the corridor by improving access to markets, reducing transportation challenges and creating opportunities for farmers and traders.
The Kabba–Iluke Road project adds to the administration’s expanding infrastructure portfolio, following the recent flag-off of the 37-kilometre Idah–Ibaji Road and the official commencement of the
international airport project, as the government pursues improved connectivity to enhance economic activities across Kogi State.
