Ogun Infrastructure Deficit: Discerning Focus On State Of Roads

By Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo

There is no doubt that Ogun State occupies a very strategic position in the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria.

Many who subscribe to this important position of the Gateway State,  add that Ogun State is in position to propel the entire southwest to becoming a real economic hub in West Africa.

That is a good dream for any state to have, but the question to ask is: do the current state of things in the state show any willingness or sincerity in the leaders to making the state take its due position?

It is better to leave the answer to the above question, to individual responders.

Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo

Suffice it so say however, that a remark by the Ogun State governor himself, Dapo Abiodun, was what provided an impetus for this writeup.

This was during a meeting with Messrs. Fayad Fayad, Strategic Advisor, and Hassan Fayad, Public Relations and Communication Officer of Mac Group, when they paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

At the Saturday, September, 20 2025 meeting, His Excellency stated amongst others, that the state economy has increased fourfold, within the last six years, moving from N3.5 trillion to N16 trillion.

He also said that the state’s foremost tourist centre, Olumo Rock in Abeokuta, now generates about N20 million on a weekly basis following its renovation, compared to the same amount generated yearly before the turnaround of the tourist center.

“We are one of the two best-performing states in Nigeria.

“We are the fastest-growing economy in the country. Our economy, between 2019 and 2025, has quadrupled from N3.5 trillion to N16 trillion”, the governor also announced.

There is no doubt that in those few lines, that the governor has said so much.

READ ALSO: NNPP Accuses Governor Abiodun of Interfering in Ogun State Judiciary

READ ALSO: Risky Flooding: Hydrological Agency Lists States Under Threat

As commendable as the issue of generating more in revenue is; or transforming Olumo Rock to a profitable tourism destination may be, some questions still beg for answer.

For example, have this supposed financial leap translated for a better life to the average Ogun resident?

Just observing the situation around, beyond government quarters and offices, would give sufficient answer.

Yes, from the accounts we get in the media, and experience in the course of our commuting the state daily, the state remains a nightmarish one, commuting its roads. And it gets worse at inner roads.

For as long as one could recall, the government has consistently blamed the infrastructure deficit in the state generally and the poor state of roads particularly, on previous administrations.

It even repeated this argument last month, in a statement by governor’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, who stated that the Abiodun-led administration met widespread infrastructural decay on assumption of office in 2019.

He however added that the government was currently undertaking major road projects across the Ifo, Sango-Ota, and Idiroko axis

“The road in question, like many others in the Sango-Ota axis, had been in that deplorable state for many years before the coming of Governor Abiodun. They are part of the huge infrastructure deficit inherited by this administration in 2019,” he said.

“The Sango–Idiroko road, which is also a Federal Government road, is under construction by the state government,” he added.

In one breath, he acknowledged that there have continued to be complaints concerning the state of roads in the state, but countered in the next breath.

“The area being mostly complained about – the Ota–Itele–Lafenwa stretch, which is about 24 kilometres – had been incorporated into the 2026 budget long before the social media hoopla.

“These projects reflect the governor’s resolve to ensure even development across the state, as fast as time and resources permit,” Akinmade said.

Providing a perspective to this issue on the table, a popular Nigerian writer Azu Arinze, in an October 29 post online, and titled “Bad roads, Ogun State and Gov. Abiodun, obviously thinks otherwise.

He argues: “Ogun State prides itself as the industrial hub of Nigeria. Yet, its road network tells a different story: One of neglect, frustration, and lost potential.

“The deplorable state of roads across the Gateway State has become a daily nightmare for residents, motorists, visitors and investors alike”.

In all honesty, when criticisms like this one come up, the tendency is for some people to fail in putting it in prosper perspective.

The writer seemed to have anticipated that and had argued thus:

“To his credit, Governor Dapo Abiodun has embarked on some road rehabilitation projects. But these scattered efforts are simply not enough. They appear more cosmetic than comprehensive, addressing symptoms rather than causes.

“What Ogun needs is a clear, transparent, and sustainable infrastructure plan – one that prioritises economic corridors, empowers credible contractors, and ensures roads are built to last. Not the excuses people get daily – both from the governor and his media team”.

When recently, StatiSense, a data analysis outfit, ranked Ogun State with the worst road quality in the state, it was for many people familiar the terrain here, an already known point.

The ranking, released on August 29, saw civil society leaders accusing Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration of neglecting critical infrastructure.

Convener of the United Premier Movement (UPM), Hon. Olalekan A. Shoyinka, popularly known as Ayinla Egba, in a statement, faulted the government’s refusal to either refute or respond to the report, describing it as “deafening and troubling.”

READ ALSO: Itele – Peaceful Neighbourhood In Need Of Gov Abiodun’s Attention

READ ALSO: Media Network Gives Comrade Ajadi Outstanding Contribution Award

According to him, the condition of roads across the state, including in Abeokuta, has left many highways impassable, worsened traffic congestion, damaged vehicles, and endangered lives.

Opeilu, Agbado Oja, Akute, Olambe, Wiwa, Oke-aro, Ajunwa to mention some have long been associated with terrible state of roads and almost totally no drainages for floods. It was such that when the state government started construction works on some of them, many people began questioning the motive close to 2027, an election year.

The Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) even noted in a recent publication, that, for residents of Opeilu, Agbado Oja, a community in Ifo Local Government Area, Ogun State, that rain is a curse.

And this is because, “When it rains, the road is slippery and muddy. Motorcycles are bound to skid or lose control due to the slippery surface. Also, larger vehicles get stuck and are unable to move”, and the residents have lived with this for about 8 years.

Being close to Lagos State, the commercial capital of the nation; and then being the Gateway State, with both huge human and material resources: why should Ogun State not have the best in terms of infrastructure for its people?

In other words, while not belittling the efforts the administration is making, more obviously needs to be done, even if we were to factor just roads.

You would agree to the common comment that ‘Ogun State goes not have roads’.

Even now that the government appears to have sprang up, close to an election year, there are already concerns and prayers for the road consruction efforts not to be a cosmetic work,  aimed at securing the confidence and trust of the people prior to the election.

The people sure have a right to good motorable roads equipped with paved drainages.  This should be a basic necessity, and not a vote-bargaining incentive.

-Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, an industrialist, humanitarian and politician wrote in from Ibafo, Ogun State