Reps seek inclusion of dualisation of Ore-Ondo-Akure expressway in 2024 budget

The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to include the reconstruction and dualisation of Ore-Ondo-Akure Federal Road in Ondo state in the 2024 budget and prioritise its funding.

The call came after a unanimous adoption of a motion by a member representing Odigbo/Ile-Oluji-Okeigbo federal constituency, Festus Ayodele Adefiranye (APC-Ondo), during the plenary.

According to a statement from the lawmaker’s media office on Thursday, Adefiranye, while moving the motion, said that the Ore-Ondo-Akure federal road, which is approximately 88.14km, was earmarked for dualization by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing several years ago but was not executed.

Efforts by previous administrations to construct the road have not yielded the desired results, according to the lawmaker. The road, which takes off from Akure, the capital of Ondo, traverses through several cities, towns, and communities in Akure South, Ondo East, Ondo West, and Odigbo Local Government Areas of the state.

Adefiranye explained that the road serves as a major link between Ondo state and other parts of the country, providing direct access for commuters coming from the North, South East, and South-South zones to Ore, the economic and industrial hub of Ondo.

He said, “Aware that the reconstruction and dualisation of the road is very critical for the economic and commercial development of the nation’s economy. It will serve as an economic boost for commuters and aid the transportation of agricultural and industrial produce from the North, South East, and South-South regions to Ondo state and beyond.

“The road is not only essential to the economic development of the state, but it also ensures the safety and security of the people who depend on it due to its proximity to Lagos state, the economic hub of the nation, and the recently approved Ondo Deep Seaport projects, which will set the nation on the path of economic prosperity.

“Due to the deplorable condition of the road, armed robbers are taking advantage of the narrowness and non-dualization of the road, by ambushing, dispossessing, robbing, kidnapping, and killing commuters at will.

“Concerned that the deplorable state of the road has turned the highway into a death trap, as travellers meet their untimely death through accidents, therefore, the recurring fatal accidents on the road require reconstruction and dualization.”

The House urged the Federal Government to award the road to a reliable and competent company and ensure its timely completion to ease the suffering of Nigerians and foster economic growth.

In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Benjamin Kalu, who presided over the plenary, mandated the Committee on Works and Appropriations when constituted to ensure compliance.

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