Ododo flags off 38.5km Kogi road project

…Promises to End Decades of Poor Access By Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, on Thursday flagged off the construction of the 38.5-kilometre Kabba–Olle-Bunu–Iluke-Bunu Road in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area, promising to address decades of poor road infrastructure in the area. The project, flagged off at Oke-Ofin, is expected to improve connectivity among communities in Bunu land, ease the movement of agricultural produce and expand access to economic opportunities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Ododo described the project as the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration of the people, assuring residents that his administration would not abandon any community, irrespective of its location. He said the road would mark a new chapter for the area by reconnecting communities that had remained isolated for years. The governor recalled how the deplorable condition of the road had affected farmers, businesses and residents, explaining that farmers struggled to transport their produce to markets, while indigenes living outside the state found it difficult to visit their ancestral homes.

He disclosed that his personal experience during a visit to Iluke-Bunu following a security incident involving students had strengthened his resolve to rehabilitate the road. Ododo said the project was part of his administration’s commitment to complementing efforts to restore security with tangible development, stressing that peace without infrastructure and economic opportunities would remain incomplete.

According to him, the road would facilitate the transportation of yams, cassava, cashew and other agricultural produce, reduce transportation costs, shorten travel time and stimulate commercial activities across Bunu land. The governor acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu, saying the increased financial resources available to state governments following the Federal Government’s economic reforms had helped subnational governments execute major infrastructure projects.

He urged residents to embrace unity and take ownership of the project by monitoring its execution, protecting construction equipment and ensuring that quality standards were maintained. The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the flag-off as a historic moment, citing his personal connection to Bunu land. Fanwo recalled trekking from Iluke to Ole-Bunu because of the poor condition of the road, which he said had remained in a deplorable state for more than 35 years.

He said the project would open up several communities in Bunu to greater economic and social opportunities, adding that future generations would remember the intervention. The Commissioner for Education, an indigene of the benefiting community, also thanked the governor, describing the project as a major development for residents who had endured years of hardship because of the inaccessible road.

He said the road’s completion would improve the transportation of agricultural produce, attract businesses, support existing investments in electricity and education, and help reduce criminal activities by improving movement and accessibility. The commissioner assured the governor that communities along the route would cooperate to protect the contractor’s personnel and equipment.

Speaking on behalf of the contractor, the Kogi State Project Supervisor of TEC Engineering, Simon Xu, said the project had an 18-month completion period. Xu assured the government and residents that the company was committed to delivering quality work, noting that its experience in Nigeria and the availability of equipment and personnel would support timely execution.

He also appealed to host communities to cooperate with the company and ensure the safety of workers and construction equipment throughout the project period.