Aiyedatiwa’s proposed 2.36km Akure flyover and the challenge of execution — by Tosin Oluwalowo

I have been thinking about the proposed 2.36km flyover from Adégbolá to St. Matthias in Akure, announced by the Ondo State Government yesterday and I must say I like the idea of the project.

If this project eventually sees the light of day, it will undoubtedly be one of the biggest legacies of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa. It will completely change the face of Akure and, frankly, change how I, for one, view this administration.

But I have one major concern. Can a gigantic project of that magnitude be completed within the lifespan of this administration?

We are talking about a 2.36km flyover, not an anyhow project. If my memory serves me right, you don’t have many of that magnitude in the country.

My concern is not without reason.

Many of us still remember the dualisation of the Oba Ile/Airport Road by the Olusegun Mimiko administration. At least, as someone who grew up in Oba-Ile, I can. The project was first awarded in 2010, re-awarded in 2014 and eventually “fully completed” by Rotimi Akeredolu after he became governor in 2017.

As someone who lived in Oba Ile, I know firsthand what residents and road users went through on that road. We saw the dust, the traffic, the delays and the frustration. We also saw how many years it took before the project was finally completed.

We also saw what happened with the recently commissioned Oneyearugbulem/Shagari/Irese flyover. Construction commenced in July 2023 and government officials said the project would be completed in less than 18 months. We all know it eventually took longer than that after Akeredolu’s death and Aiyedatiwa took over as governor.

That is why, beyond the announcement and excitement, the real issue for me is execution.

I hope the government gives this project the seriousness and professionalism it deserves. A project of this nature cannot afford poor planning, unnecessary delays or funding challenges midway into execution.

Another issue of great concern is demolitions.

Looking at the corridor, it is obvious that many properties will be affected. While I strongly agree that development is good and necessary, those who will bear the direct impact of that development must not be abandoned.

Proper and adequate compensation should be paid to everyone affected. Nobody should be made to suffer because government wants to undertake a project that is meant to benefit the larger society.

Akure desperately needs bold infrastructure projects. In fact, if this flyover is successfully delivered, it will rank among the most significant projects undertaken in the state capital since the creation of Ondo State.

Now that the announcement has been made by the state government, the bigger challenge before us is to ensure that this gigantic project is completed and does not become another project that future administrations will have to inherit and complete.

–Oluwalowo writes from Abuja