Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday unveiled the Laderin–Prof. Wole Soyinka Train Station Road in Abeokuta, the state capital, announcing plans to inaugurate 20 additional roads across the state as part of activities marking the state’s 50th anniversary.
The state, which was created on February 13, 1976 by the military government of late Gen. Murtala Muhammed alongside others including Oyo, Ondo, Benue, Bauchi, Borno, Imo and Niger, will be 50 years old by February 2026.
Speaking at the inuguration, the governor said construction work was progressing steadily on the Sagamu Interchange–Papalanto–Opele Road, describing the 100-kilometre highway as a critical East–West connector within the state.
He stated that the road, when completed, would provide motorists with an alternative route, eliminating the need to pass through Abeokuta before accessing other parts of the country, while also opening up the corridor for increased commercial activities.
The governor said, “Let me share with you the biggest secret of our reconstruction efforts right now – the Ogun East–West Connector. This road stretches from the Sagamu Interchange through Papalanto to Opele, covering about 100 kilometres.
“We have completely closed off the road for reconstruction. As we speak, between Sagamu Interchange and Papalanto, which is about 40 kilometres, we have reconstructed approximately 25 kilometres using reinforced concrete.
“When completed, trucks and vehicles conveying goods and services from Ota, Ifo and Ewekoro will no longer need to use the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway, as they can connect directly to Papalanto and access the expressway.”
Abiodun described the Prof. Wole Soyinka Train Station as a major landmark linking Ogun State to Lagos, Oyo State and the northern parts of the country.
He noted that the presence of five train stations in the state underscored Ogun’s strategic importance to Nigeria’s economic development.
The governor explained that although access roads were not originally provided when the rail line was constructed, his administration decided to rehabilitate the Laderin road in line with its multimodal transportation agenda.
He added that between 100,000 and 150,000 passengers, including investors, commute daily between Ogun, Oyo and Lagos states.
The governor disclosed that the train station road formed part of the over 1,600 kilometres of roads constructed across the state, adding that one lane of the Atan–Lusada–Agbara Road had been completed, while work had commenced on the second lane.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lateef Yusuf, said the three-kilometre road would provide access to the MKO Abiola Trade Fair Complex, Laderin, Lukosi and other surrounding communities, noting that it would ease movement and boost commercial activities.
A former member of the House of Representatives and the Osi of Egbaland, Chief Bode Mustapha, recalled the deplorable state of the road in the past.
Mustapha said the reconstruction of the road, alongside other projects, had significantly benefited Ogun Central Senatorial District and Abeokuta under the Abiodun administration.
Leave a comment