Senate presses FG to extend Akure–Ore road project to Ondo south’s unity corridor

The Senate has called on the Federal Ministry of Works to widen the scope of the ongoing rehabilitation on the Akure–Ore highway by adding the Ore–Okitipupa–Igbokoda federal road, a major route serving Ondo South’s oil-producing belt.

The recommendation followed a motion by Jimoh Ibrahim (APC, Ondo South), who argued that excluding the Unity Road from the current works under Project C/No. 6509 undermines the economic contributions of the region.

Presenting the motion titled “Achieving Fair and Balanced Infrastructure Development: Expansion of Akure–Ore Road Repairs to Ore–Okitipupa–Igbokoda Unity Road,” on Thursday, Ibrahim reminded lawmakers of the strategic importance of federal roads to national productivity.

According to him, “the Senate notes that road construction, repairs, redesign, and reconstruction are vital to any nation’s economic development, particularly where traffic volume has increased significantly in support of commercial activities.

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Nigeria classifies roads by national importance, designating major routes as federal, state, or local government roads to ensure clear responsibility for maintenance.”

He further highlighted the scale of the current intervention, saying the chamber “also notes that the Akure–Ore Road repairs, officially designated as Project C/No. 6509 and coded ERGP12190717, are a Federal Government initiative supervised by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing with a total appropriation of ₦31,023,545.00, with the same amount allocated in the 2023 fiscal year.

The project is ongoing and forms part of Nigeria’s commitment to the UN-supported Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which align with World Bank and IMF policies aimed at eradicating poverty by 2030.”

Despite acknowledging the federal government’s efforts, Ibrahim stressed that more needed to be done:

“Further notes that while the Federal Government’s ongoing interventions on major highways are commendable, it is critical to capture and address the concerns of key stakeholders affected by road conditions in oil-producing regions.”

The senator reminded his colleagues that Ondo State plays a significant role in the nation’s crude oil output.

He said the Senate is “aware that Ondo State is an oil-producing state contributing over 7% of Nigeria’s crude oil revenue, with the major oil-producing communities located in the Ondo South Senatorial District.

“The primary access route to this region is the Ore-Okitipupa-Igbokoda Federal Road, which is directly linked to the ongoing Project C/No. 6509 and accounts for 95% of the economic relevance of the corridor, yet remains largely unattended.”

He added that the Unity Road is more than just a transport lin, but a connector of communities.

He added, “Also aware that stakeholder engagement is vital in government decision-making, especially where the collective interests of communities coincide.

“The Ore-Okitipupa-Igbokoda Road serves as a unity road, linking oil-producing communities across the district and enabling shared economic and social benefits.”

The motion also touched on the impact of equitable projects on national cohesion.

Ibrahim noted that the Senate is “further aware that protecting and strengthening the unity of communities with common interests remains a national responsibility.

“The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing can deepen public trust and support by ensuring equitable distribution of federal infrastructure projects, particularly in economically strategic regions.”

He recalled the longstanding harmony within Ondo South, saying the Senate “recalls that communities across the Ondo South Senatorial District have historically coexisted peacefully and are committed to preserving their shared heritage and collective identity.”

But he warned that lopsided projects could lead to discontent.

According to him, the Senate “recognises that communal tensions may arise when government policies on infrastructure appear to favour some communities over others. It is the responsibility of the Senate to ensure fairness, equity, and national security. Oil-producing communities must benefit from the resources derived from their lands, and exclusion could create feelings of marginalisation, especially where one community’s resources appear to be used to develop another.”

Ibrahim concluded with a strong appeal for inclusion, “Concludes that excluding the Ore-Okitipupa-Igbokoda Road from the ongoing federal repairs effectively overlooks the only federal highway serving an oil-producing zone in the state, thereby marginalising more than 2 million residents, including 1.5 million registered voters in Ondo South Senatorial District. In the interest of justice, equity, and national unity, it is imperative that this corridor be included in the ongoing works.”

The Senate adopted the motion and urged the Federal Ministry of Works to immediately integrate the road into the ongoing rehabilitation programme.

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