03/09/2026
DECEMBER DEADLINE: OSOPADEC BOSS ORDERS FINAL PUSH ON ABOTO-ATIJERE ROAD
- "No More Excuses, Road Must Be Delivered Before December" - Poroye
The Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) has intensified pressure on the contractor handling the Aboto-Atijere road project, declaring that the road must be completed and opened to traffic before December.
The Executive Chairman of OSOPADEC, Prince Biyi Poroye, gave the marching order on Wednesday during the project inspection, saying Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa had issued a clear directive that there must be no delay in delivering the road.
Poroye, who expressed satisfaction with the pace of work, said the project had reached a critical stage, with earthworks advancing towards Atijere and construction activities continuing despite the rainy season.
"On this particular road, the Governor has given what I would call an executive order to ensure that we deliver it before December," he said.
Poroye said the people had taken ownership of the project by monitoring the work and scrutinising its progress, stressing that such community involvement would make it difficult for anyone to misrepresent the actual situation at the project site.
According to him, residents and social critics should go beyond social media commentaries by physically visiting project sites to assess the performance of the government.
"This is not a road where you can tell lies. I have seen social critics on social media visiting the project site on their own. That is actually the best way society can be developed.
"You don't just sit in the comfort of your room to criticise or praise government. People should go to project sites, see things for themselves and assess the extent of development."
Poroye commended the contractor for maintaining its presence on site and keeping faith with its commitment to the commission.
"So far, the contractor has done well and has made us proud by keeping to its word," he said.
He described the Aboto-Atijere road as a major economic and connectivity corridor capable of transforming movement within the oil-producing areas and linking the area more efficiently with neighbouring Ogun State.
"The road is very important to the mandate area. It connects us to our sister state, Ogun State, and significantly shortens the journey.
"With the coastal road being undertaken by the Federal Government from Lagos, this is going to become a very enterprising corridor and environment for everyone to enjoy."
Poroye also praised youths and residents of communities along the route for supporting rather than frustrating the contractor.
The OSOPADEC chairman also dismissed the rainy season as an excuse for abandoning work, saying advances in construction technology had made it possible to continue major projects during adverse weather.
"Even though it is the rainy season, the contractor has not stopped work because technology has advanced beyond the level where contractors use the weather as an excuse,"he said.
The Executive Director, Projects, OSOPADEC, Dr. Olujimi Kufo, while speaking to OSOPADEC media crew, said the inspection took the team to kilometre 16 of the project, which he described as one of the critical sections of the road.
Kufo said the contractor had remained on course with the approved work programme and was paying particular attention to culverts that could determine the long-term performance of the road.
"We are at kilometre 16 of the main project. As the Chairman has earlier mentioned, this is a critical project which, based on the directive of Mr. Governor, we are giving so much attention to," he said.
"We are impressed with the performance of the contractor so far. They are working in line with the programme we have put in place, and we are confident that, in accordance with the directive of the Executive Governor, this project will be completed before December and ready for commissioning," Kufo said.
The project consultant, Engineer Joseph Odunayo, said the construction had substantially advanced the earthworks towards Atijere township.
He added that stone-base laying had also progressed to beyond kilometre 14, after which the remaining sections would be prepared for asphalt surfacing.
"With the help of God, by December or on or before December, it will be connected fully,"he said.
The Director, Project Monitoring and Evaluation, OSOPADEC, Engineer Dipo Aluko, also expressed confidence that the December target remained achievable.
Aluko said the project had recorded "very enviable progress", noting that earthworks had already advanced to Atijere while teams were working simultaneously on the remaining culverts.
He identified three critical culverts at kilometre 16, kilometre 22 and kilometre 23, explaining that separate gangs had been deployed to handle the various culvert works simultaneously.
Aluko said the stone-base laying had already crossed kilometre 14 and that the contractor had deployed sufficient manpower, machinery and materials to meet the December deadline.
Meanwhile, a native of Akata town in Ilaje Local Government Area, Olorunwa Akinyemi, appealed to OSOPADEC to complement the road project with the construction of a small overhead stone jetty to protect residents from dangerous water waves.
Akinyemi, who said he had worked with the construction company for about four months, commended OSOPADEC and the Ondo State Government for paying attention to the development needs of Akata and Atijere people.