As part of his administration’s efforts at rural development, the Governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has inaugurated the construction and rehabilitation of another 308km of rural roads across the state.
Aregbesola said his administration has delivered on the electoral promises made to the people in all aspects of life, particularly in the infrastructural sector where the largest chunks of the resources were focused on.
He noted that the state under his watch has built physical infrastructure to sustain stomach infrastructure as state’s investments in infrastructure development are designed to complement the social intervention programmes which are primarily aimed to impact directly on the masses’ well-being.
Governor Aregbesola made the statement on Monday at the Flag-Off Ceremony of the Rehabilitation/Construction of 307.96 kilometres Second Tranche of Rural Roads and Commissioning of 26 River Crossings in Ila-Orangun and Oke-Ila respectively under the Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (RAMP II)
Osun was among the few selected states in Nigeria for the implementation of (RAMP), a road infrastructure development programme designed to build access roads in the rural areas, thus improving the welfare of rural dwellers, particularly farmers.
The project is jointly financed by the World Bank and the French Development Agency.
Addressing the huge crowd at the flag-off ceremony which include traditional rulers, community and religious leaders, party leaders and a cross section of other stakeholders, Aregbesola affirmed that his administration remains committed to continuously making life meaningful, abundant and fulfilling for the people, saying he is determined to build more infrastructure, to secure comfort for the populace for the next 50 years.
He expressed satisfaction in the myriads of developments programmes his administration has provided in the state.
Aregbesola attributed the giant strides recorded by his administration to his commitment and passion to modernise the state and uplift the standard of living of the people of the state.
He said, “We are delighted to add to our successes today on the infrastructural development which has been at the front-burner of our policies and programmes since we assumed office.
“There is no doubting the fact that our administration has fulfilled promises made to the people of the state across sectors and in all aspects of life as this claim could be justified and attested to through our multifarious social intervention programmes.
“We have shown to the entire world through our achievements that government and good governance could only be achieved if the people’s needs are prioritized as we did in Osun.
“Our administration has in the last seven and half years turned around the socioeconomic fortunes of the state, thus making life abundant and fulfilling for our people.
“We have justified the essence of governance, we have made the impossible possible, we have built physical infrastructure to sustain our investment in stomach infrastructure.
“Our government has been people-oriented and masses-focused, we have liberated our people and given them the basic necessities of life to live comfortably and fulfill their dreams in life”.
Earlier, the National Coordinator of RAMP, Engr. Ubandoma Ularamu, commended the State Government for prompt payment of its counterpart fund.
He lauded the Aregbesola administration for being committed to human and capital development as reflected in the massive investment the state has made in the last few years.
Ularamu said a total of about 522.10km of rural roads and 26 river crossings (bridges) are being constructed and rehabilitated all over the state, adding that the construction and rehabilitation ranges from some completed while some are at various stages of completion.
He expressed confidence in the ability of the state’s infrastructural projects to turn around the economic fortune of the state and by extension make life more abundant, comfortable and worthy of living for all.
In his words, “A total of about 522.10km of rural roads and 26Nos river crossings are being constructed and rehabilitated all over the state.
“These achievements couldn’t have been easily made without the support of Mr Governor in terms of counterpart contribution, amongst others, to the project.
“I want to inform the good people of Osun that as the projects make impacts, there will also be good benefits that will be coming to the state from an organization known as the International Institute for Local Development (IILD) which will be giving soft loan to small holder farmers living along the corridors of all RAMP roads”, he added.
In his remarks, the State Project Coordinator of Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project, Engr. Adelere Oriolowo, said Osun RAMP has performed beyond the expected target during the execution of the first phase of project implementation.
He described the quick completion of the first phase of 214.14km rural road and 26 river crossings which included four bridges as well as the timely release of the parallel fund, despite the paucity of funds in the state, as a clear reflection of the commitment of the Aregbesola administration to practically and relentlessly meet the yearnings of the residents and as well help to improve rural transport infrastructure in the state.
Oriolowo lauded the state government on its timely and prompt support of the goals of the first tranche of the project, saying the support being enjoyed by the Project from the Government of the State of Osun is second to none and this has been helping the project to maintain its leading role among its peers.
Packaged by Rahman Salami
