Oyo State Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, says Egbeda Local Government Area is strategically positioned for significant economic and infrastructural growth, given the major projects currently taking shape within and around the council.
Lawal spoke on Friday while commissioning the newly constructed office complex for the Executive Chairman of Egbeda Local Government, Hon. Sikiru Sanda, at the council secretariat in Egbeda, Ibadan.
The event also featured the presentation of awards to former chairmen of the local government in recognition of their contributions to the council’s development.
The deputy governor identified the Ibadan Circular Road, the Air Force Base project in Ajia and the Ajoda Housing Estate, among other developments, as projects capable of reshaping Egbeda’s economic prospects and making the council a key part of emerging development corridors in the Ibadan metropolis.
He urged residents and property owners affected by the Circular Road project to consider its long-term implications for the state, assuring them that those whose properties are acquired for the project would be compensated in accordance with government policy and overriding public interest.
Lawal said the state government was determined to avoid the unplanned development that occurred around the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway following its construction, stressing that the Circular Road corridor was being developed with long-term planning in mind.
He said:“Egbeda Local Government is now a nodal point within Ibadan, surrounded by projects designed to drive development. From the Circular Road to the Air Force Base and the Egbe-Ona Ara Development Corridor, this local government holds immense prospects for Oyo State.
“People have been agitating over the Circular Road corridor, but if we want development, certain things must give way for overriding public interest. The benefits may not be immediately visible, but we are planning 10 to 20 years ahead.
“Those whose houses were demolished will be compensated. They should not agitate. They must understand what the Oyo State Government is trying to achieve.”
The deputy governor recalled the development pattern that followed the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in 1977, saying the absence of adequate planning around the road contributed to the emergence of unplanned settlements.
He said the state government was determined to ensure that history did not repeat itself along the Circular Road corridor.
“I witnessed the construction of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in 1977. The left side of the road toward Lagos was virgin land, but because it was not planned, it became a slum. We must not repeat that mistake.
“The Circular Road we are building will come with adequate planning, so that future generations will know that we had a clear vision for Oyo State.”
Lawal also commended Sanda for completing the new office complex, noting that the project was financed through the local government’s internally generated revenue.
Sanda, in his remarks, described the building as one of the enduring projects of his administration and attributed the council’s ability to execute it to the autonomy provided by the state government.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for creating an environment that allows local governments to pursue development projects and assured residents that other initiatives were in progress.
The council chairman pledged to remain committed to serving the people of Egbeda and Oyo State until the end of his tenure.
In separate goodwill messages, the Chairman of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government, Hon. Emmanuel Akintunde; former council chairman and former TESCOM Chairman, Chief Akin Alamu; and Co-Chairman of the Oyo State Elders’ Council and former Egbeda Local Government Chairman, Elder Wole Oyelese, commended Sanda for projects carried out under his administration.
Earlier, the Head of Administration of Egbeda Local Government, Dr Monsurat Ayo-Alaga, said the new office complex demonstrated the council’s commitment to prudent financial management, accountability and responsible use of public funds.
She said the recognition of former council chairmen was also intended to acknowledge their respective contributions to the development of Egbeda.
Ayo-Alaga commended the Makinde administration for its interventions in education, healthcare, water supply, infrastructure and security, describing the initiatives as part of efforts to strengthen development at the grassroots.
The event was attended by the member representing Egbeda State Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olasunkanmi Babalola; Oyo South APM senatorial candidate, Hon. Oguntoyinbo Ajadi; Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Pension Board, Hon. Ademola Ige; traditional rulers, religious leaders and other dignitaries.
