“In the last 18 months, the Oyetola administration in the State of Osun has touched if not all aspects of the infrastructure needs of the people. Despite the lack of funds, we have progressed on the level of development we met.”
Engr Oluremi Omowaiye, the Commissioner for Works in Osun In an exclusive chat with OsunMediaHub posits that aside the continuation of the legacy projects of the immediate past administration in road construction and rehabilitation, the incumbent has done much more to ensure the rapid economic development of the state.
For the Oyetola dispensation, the goal is to attract to every part of the state, meaningful and people oriented infrastructure hinged on areas of progressive torch in development of Osun.
With its foundation from the Needs Assessment carried out by the D-FID and the feedback from the “Thank-You Tour” after his electoral victory, Governor Adegboyega Oyetola after settling down swung into action with the mantra of seeking to urgently put in place strategies of meeting the immediate needs of the people.
First among these needs were the 332 Primary Healthcare Centers revitalized through the $21 million support from the Saving One Million lives programme. The health infrastructure initiative was extended to the then-moribund General Hospital, Ejigbo and the construction of 150-bedded and 50 doctors quarters ongoing at the state specialist hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo.
“So far, about 70% of our newly refurbished and revitalized PHC’s are ready. Some of them have been commissioned while others await Mr Governor’s inauguration. Very soon, the rest will be completed,” Omowaiye noted.
The needs assessment report sought the essence of urgent intervention on road infrastructure especially in Osun West Senatorial District. From Ede to Ejigbo, Iwo, Ara, Awo, Ido-Osun, Masifa, Sekona, Ofatedo, Ile-Ogbo, Kuta, Oluponna among others, roads in that part of the state are wearing a new look due to the drastic and concerted efforts of government to turn around the economy of the affected communities, towns and villages.
According to Omowaiye “When we got in, one of the places that was lagging behind in terms of road infrastructure was the West Senatorial District. Most of the roads were either in bad shape, not motorable or inaccessible. With our priority needs assessment data, we set to work.”
“As of June 2020, we have completed a number of roads there. We are also looking at major roads like the Ede to Ejigbo, Ejigbo to Iwo, Osogbo to Ejigbo, Osogbo to Iwo and other notable ones. We are working on these roads and Mr Governor’s commitment to them is unshaken.”
Apart from the roads, the state government of Osun he said recently completed the Alekuwodo inner township roads. The road which links all communities in the axis together was in bad shape before the intervention.
“Residents of the area were full of gratitude to us. They’ve not had their road touched in years. It was carnival-like when we got there. Same occurred when we were in Ede too. The people are happy and they can heave a Hugh sigh of relief.”
The government in the next few months Engr Omowaiye noted will begin the construction of 10 township roads across the state while efforts are on to do more in line with the available resources.
“We are willing to do more. The infrastructural deficit met by the last administration was huge. It did its best while we are building on what was done. What the Oyetola administration is doing is to focus on the areas that were not touched with a view to doing much more. We have done more with less and great quality.”
“We are threading the path of continuity and sustainability. Do not also forget we are also working on the major roads started by the Rauf Aregbesola administration. We are continuing work on them and we will ensure their completion because they add value to the economic potentials of the state.”
Omowaiye noted that with the progress achieved so far, the gains so far in the growth of the state’s GDP, influx of new businesses, the least poverty index figures and many more will further be consolidated on by the Ilerioluwa mandate.