By John Odunjo
Road users and motorists plying Ondo – Akure will soon heave a sigh of relief as Ondo State Government on Thursday began permanent repair of the road at the Owena area where it failed.
The state government has however, However, said that pending the completion of the road project, users of the route should continue to make use of Ipetu-Ijesha Road to access Ondo and Akure.
Although it is a federal road, the state government said that it had through the state Ministry of Infrastructure, Land and Housing, decided to rehabilitate it “to prevent unnecessary hardship and loss of lives on the federal highways that fall within Ondo State territory”.
The Commissioner for Infrastructure, Land and Housing, Engr. Raimi Aminu, said that the project was approved by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu as part of his road network initiative.
He said, “The road cannot be abandoned despite belonging to the Federal Government”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Allen Idowu, who is supervising the rehabilitation of the road at Owena-Ondo road, on behalf of the state government, said work had begun immediately on the site.
He said “Pending the completion of the road project, motorists and other road users plying the Akure/Owena-Ondo road are employed to make use of Ipetu-Ijesha road.
The state government assured that the road will be completed in due time and such rehabilitation is being extended to other parts of the state.