The Oyo State Government, in conjunction with the local government councils, has embarked on the rehabilitation/reconstruction of a total of 62 roads across all the 33 local government areas of the state at the cost of N5.3 billion.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said in a statement issued in Ibadan by that the rehabilitation/reconstruction of the affected roads had become necessary in view of their bad state, owing to long years of neglect.

“These roads were picked by the caretaker committee chairmen in their respective areas based on their levels of disrepair and the needs of the people. Some of the roads were in over 50 per cent state of completion,” Adedayo said.

He added that “the funds for the projects were drawn from the excess crude account, and the number of roads to be rehabilitated per local government and the length of the roads varied from one council to the other.”

Adedayo said that the Ajimobi administration has decided to embark on mass reconstruction of the roads in order to improving on the road networking in the state and bring government closer to the people at the grassroots.

According to him, while a total sum of N1,667,535,398.75 is being expended on the roads under construction in Ibadan Zone, Oyo Zone will gulp N908,774,905.50; Ogbomoso Zone N760,815,499.50; Saki Zone N1,470,368,382 and Ibarapa Zone N458,747,461.75, all totaling N5,266,261,646.75.

“In Ibadan Zone, the 1.35 kilometre Apapa Ojemo Road from Underpass to Primary School, Off Ibadan/Oyo Expressway, Ibadan is to be reconstructed for N150,353,490, while Yawiri Road, Off Akobo Ojurin and Eniosa-Onibepe, off Olorunda Aba in Lagelu Local Government Area will be rehabilitated at the total sum of N152,356,459,” he stated.

Adedayo assured the people of the state that typical of the Ajimobi administration, the roads would be of high quality and would enhance easy passage of the people in the hinterland to the urban centres and vice versa.

•Photo shows Governor Ajimobi.