By Faith Obams, JKNewsMedia Intern
SATISFACTION IS growing among motorists and residents as reconstruction work on the Abeokuta-Ifo-Sango-Ota-Lagos expressway gathers momentum, with users praising both the pace and the quality of work.
The Ogun State government launched the project on 23 August last year, setting an 18-month timeline for completion.
Workmen are currently deployed in five sections of the highway, including Olomore, Midgad/Metroxide, Papanlanto Junction, Owode, and the Toll Gate axis.
According to project updates, earthwork, stone base and drainage have already been completed in those areas, while asphalt is now being laid.
In addition, failed portions of the road at Brewery, Obada, and Itori Junction up to the Lafarge Cement Factory in Ewekoro have been repaired and reopened to traffic.
Speaking on the progress, the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdul Fatai Akorede Akamo, told journalists that the expressway had been abandoned for years before the intervention of the present administration.
The monarch said the governor had taken up a project many thought impossible.
“This road has been abandoned for so many years, and I thank God that Governor Dapo Abiodun took the bull by the horns and committed to doing the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road,” he said.
“Though it is a federal road, Governor Abiodun said he would complete the road, and he has started it. Our governor is a man of his word, and his word is his bond.”
Transporters using the corridor also expressed relief at the changes. Opeyemi Akindele, who plies the Abeokuta-Papalanto route, commended the contractor for delivering quality work.
He said accidents had reduced significantly, and traffic flow had improved since the project began.
“Some portions of this road used to be like swimming pools, but the current government of Governor Dapo Abiodun has done very well by fixing this road,” Akindele said.
He added that motorists previously resorted to driving one-way to avoid dilapidated sections, often leading to breakdowns.
He called for the creation of a trailer park between Papalanto Junction and the Lafarge Cement Plant to prevent articulated vehicles from obstructing traffic.
Residents spoke on the development starting with a Papalanto resident, Ololade Anjolaoluwa, who said traffic jams had eased.
Another resident, Akande Michael, called on contractors to speed up completion. “Accidents have ceased to happen on this road because the Ogun State Government commenced reconstruction. We are very happy and appreciate the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration,” Michael said.
Ogun Airport Gains First-Ever NCAA Permit
While road works progress, Ogun State also marked a milestone in its aviation drive as the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) issued the country’s first-ever Aerodrome Operational Permit (AOP) to the state-owned Gateway International Airport at Ilisan-Iperu.
The certification is the first under the NCAA’s enhanced regulatory framework.
Further boosting the development, the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) declared the Instrument Landing System/Distance Measuring Equipment (ILS/DME) on Runway 23 at the Gateway International Airport “totally satisfactory in all respects” after a flight inspection carried out on 4 September 2025.
Governor Abiodun, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media, Tayo Mabeweje, described the approval as a validation of his administration’s vision for Ogun as a hub for commerce, investment, and global connectivity.
“This achievement is not just for Ogun State but for Nigeria as a whole. The Gateway International Airport is a symbol of progress and a new benchmark for aviation infrastructure,” the governor said.
According to the statement, the certifications will allow for safer and more reliable operations, open up direct international market access for farmers, create jobs for youths, and reduce congestion at Lagos airports.
It noted that with the approvals, Ogun State has positioned itself as a leader in aviation development and set new standards for infrastructure, safety, and competitiveness.
