The Kogi State government has officially launched the rehabilitation of the 38.5-kilometre Kabba–Olle-Bunu–Iluke Road in the Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area. This initiative marks a significant step towards improving road infrastructure and enhancing accessibility for local communities.
During the flag-off ceremony held at Oke-Ofin, Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo emphasized that this project fulfills a long-awaited aspiration of the residents in Bunu land. He pledged that his administration would not neglect any community, regardless of its geographical location.
Ododo highlighted the adverse effects of the road’s poor condition on local farmers, businesses, and residents, which had previously hindered their ability to transport goods and visit their hometowns. Personal experiences during a recent visit to Iluke-Bunu, underlined by a security incident involving students, further fueled his commitment to the road’s rehabilitation.
The Governor stated that the completion of the road would greatly enhance the transportation of key agricultural products such as yams, cassava, and cashew, effectively reducing transport costs and stimulating commerce in the region. He linked this project to broader efforts to restore security and promote infrastructural development in the state.
Ododo also acknowledged President Bola Tinubu’s support and the increased financial resources available to state governments as critical for executing significant infrastructure projects. He called on residents to take ownership of the construction process, urging them to monitor the project and protect work equipment.
Kogi State’s Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, described the event as historic, noting his personal connection to Bunu land and the road’s longstanding neglect of over 35 years. He asserted that this project would provide greater economic and social opportunities for many communities.
Additionally, the Commissioner for Education praised the road’s potential to enhance agricultural transport and encourage business growth, asserting that it would ultimately strengthen investments in essential services like electricity and education.
The State Project Supervisor of TEC Engineering, Simon Xu, representing the contractor, assured timely delivery of quality work within an 18-month completion period and urged community cooperation to ensure the safety of workers and construction materials.
