Akeredolu: My administration has completed over 294km of roads in six years

Rotimi Akeredolu, governor of Ondo, says over 294 kilometres of roads have been completed since his administration came into office six years ago.

Richard Olatunde, the governor’s chief press secretary, said in a statement on Friday that Akeredolu revealed the achievement in a message commemorating his sixth anniversary in office.

Akeredolu became the governor of Ondo in 2017 and was reelected in 2021.

Speaking on the gains of his administration, the governor said there is “a little above 100km of road construction are ongoing across the state”.

He said his government has improved the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) “from the paltry N700 million inherited in 2017 to an average of N2 billion”.

“Six years have flown by with astonishing speed. Our mission to redeem the state has been marched with courage and determination. We have made remarkable progress in our resolve to make life better for the people and make our state an enviable destination,” Akerodolu said.

“Our commitment to industrialization and massive investment has yielded enduring fruits. In our first term, we facilitated industries both at the industrial park and the Ondo-Linyi industrial hub in Ore. We kept our promise of putting a stop to the carnage at the cross-section of Lagos- Benin expressway in Ore by constructing the first-of-its-kind flyover, christened ‘The Redemption Bridge.’

“Our infrastructural drive has been phenomenal. In the last six years, over 294.11km of roads have been completed while a little above 100km are ongoing across the state. Our determination to leave the state better than we met it and bridge the infrastructural gap has yielded impressive results.

“Despite the giant stride recorded on road construction in our first term, we didn’t rest on our oars as we are still dotting the landscape and initiating new road projects. For instance, we have commenced work on Igoba township road. Similarly, work is about to start on Ajagba – Iju Osun – Akotogbo road. The Agadagba – Pereama road is completed and awaiting commissioning, same as Igbobini – Igbotu township road. We have also concluded arrangements to commence work on the Agerige road.

“In pursuance of our commitment to the REDEEMED agenda of our administration and our desire to leave a good legacy, we commenced the construction of a betting Governor’s Lodge in our second term. Today, the Lodge is near completion and it is our hope that the laudable project will be commissioned in few months’ time.

“In the last six years, we have made bold footprints in the infrastructural sector. Another landmark testimony of our commitment to infrastructural development is the 250-bed hospital we are building in each of the Ondo and Akure complexes of the University of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital.

“We are also set to build an ultramodern and befitting Judiciary Complex in Akure, the State capital. The new complex will house twenty different Court buildings from Court one to Court 20. That is aside the Chief Judge’s Court. The groundbreaking will be performed soon at the existing Court Complex.

“Also, in our resolve to accelerate development and provide a new lease of fiscal autonomy, we have tremendously improved on our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from the paltry N700 Million inherited in 2017 to an average of N2 Billion. This we achieved without burden on our people.”

‘OFFSETTING SIX OUT OF THE INHERITED SEVEN MONTHS’ SALARY ARREARS’

Akerodolu said his administration has cleared six out of seven months’ salary arrears inherited when it took office in 2017.

“When we assumed office in 2017, the workers were owed seven months salary arrears and their morale was low as the situation could be better imagined. We promised to give priority to their welfare, and today, we have offset six out of the inherited seven months’ arrears. As regards workers’ salary, we have paid up till date. Just yesterday, I approved the payment of the February 2023 salary,” he said.