Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state on Friday flagged off the construction of the first phase of Ibadan Circular Road, with completion date set at the next 18 months.
The 32.2km first phase, from an entire length of 110km, is to be a four-lane, dual carriage motorway linking Lagos-Ibadan expressway to Ibadan-Ife highway at an estimated sum of N70 billion.
The road project on a Build, Operate and Transfer model will feature bridges, interchanges/flyovers, streetlights, security posts, filling stations among other road infrastructures.
Doing the official inauguration of the project at Badeku village, Ibadan, Ajimobi said his administration activated the project initiated in 2002, so as to free up inter and intra Ibadan traffic congestion and to divert traffic away from Ibadan metropolis.
Noting that the project was on a Public/Private partnership model with ENL consortium, he assured that the state government would not incur any direct cost in implementing the project.
Noting funding challenge and dwindling revenue of states, Ajimobi reverberated calls for review of the current revenue allocation formula for states to have more funds for developmental projects.
State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Mr Wasiu Dauda added that the other three sections to follow are North-West – 33km, South-West – 24km and South-East – 20.8km.
Meanwhile, Ajimobi speaking at the event, said that the state government was set to utilise technology in enhancing security through the installation of Closed Circuit Camera Television (CCTV) in strategic locations of the state.
In what he described as Safe city approach to security using technology, Ajimobi stated that the installation of CCTVs in red light districts of the state would commence before the end of the year.
He decried instances of crime and stealing of public infrastructure which the technological approach to security intended to address.
The event was graced by the governor’s wife, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; deputy governor, Mr Moses Adeyemo and other members of the state executive council, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Honourable Micheal Adeyemo, former Lagos state governor, General Raji Rasaki; the Olubadan in council, traditional rulers across other zones of the state, vehicle drivers’ unions, traders’ associations and Chairman, ENL Consortium, Mr Hastrup Adesuyi.
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