Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, over the weekend attributed the need to checkmate avoidable death of innocent people along Ibadan/Ife expressway as the major reason that prompted his government to construct Gbongan Trumphet interchange bridge, named after the former interim national chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande.
He expressed optimism that the newly completed bridge that conjoins Ibadan/Ife/Gbongan/Osogbo dual carriage road, would go a long way in halting auto crashes that he said had claimed over 1,000 lives at Gbongan junction.
This was contained in a statement issued by Aregbesola’s media adviser, Mr Sola Fasure, copies of which were made available to journalists in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Monday.
The governor, who was quoted to have made the disclosure at the 2017 Annual Dinner/Colloquium, organized by the members of Progressive E-Group in Osogbo.
Said his administration was motivated to construct the multi-billion Akoda/Ode-Omu/Gbongan dual carriage way that accommodated the trumpet interchange bridge to open Osun to her neighbours and the rest of the country.
While assuring the residents and indigenes of the state that the project would be completed before the expiration of his tenure in November, 2018 noted that impressive pace of work on the road further shows his relentless commitment to bring to the residents of the state the much-needed infrastructure facilities.
According to the statement, “his administration had embarked on massive road infrastructure development, having realized the need to advance the economy of the state through industrialization and commercialization”, adding that universally, the economy is built and sustained basically on road infrastructure development as every economically advanced nation of the world is hinged on standard road and transportation networks”.
“It is in view of this that we embarked aggressively on massive road infrastructure development to first of us connect and reconnect rural and urban citizens and as well attract both local and foreign investors whose first consideration on investment remains good roads”.
“However, the completion stage of this road, particularly Abdulkareem Adebisi Akande Trumpet Interchange Bridge indicates that our vision for the good people of Osun is gradually coming to fruition, not only on road infrastructure sector but in other aspects. So I am impressed with the level of completion on this road as it further attests to our commitment to bring to our people life-long quality roads infrastructure”.
“It is our belief that the completion of this road will, without any doubt, contribute significantly to the socioeconomic growth and development of our people as Osun will be better exposed to neighbouring states”, the statement added.
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