Drones to patrol Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Drones are now to be deployed to mount surveillance on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway in order to checkmate security breaches on the busy road, a major transport artery into all parts of the country.
Additional 25 patrol vans are also to be deployed to serve as immediate backups to these drones’ activities along the expressway.
Three states in the Southwest through which the road passed have come together to provide these facilities in order to end the menace of hoodlums and gangsters along the busy route.
This was revealed by Prince Dapo Abiodun, Governor of Ogun State during a Town Hall meeting on the state’s 2025-2027 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2025 Budget, held at the Bisi Rodipe Event Center in Ijebu-Ode.
Pointing out that the infrastructural development programme of his government were people oriented, the governor disclosed that Ogun State in collaboration with Lagos and Oyo State Governments had procured the surveillance drones and the additional 25 patrol vans to monitor activities along the expressway,
He noted that construction and imminent completion of the Gateway International Agro cargo Airport, among other projects would position the state as the major logistics hub in the sub-region.
He said the state would also take advantage of the Africa Quality Assurance Center to be developed by the Africa Export-Import Bank in the area.
Governor Abiodun who was represented by his Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo said his administration had commenced construction of over 64 kilometers of rural roads across the state, despite the fiscal pressures on its resources.
The state government has approved reconstruction of roads along Imoro-Imegun-Opopo and Igbeba-Eid praying ground-Prison, as well as Imoru road in Ijebu-Ode and Odelewu-Ladeshi-Ishiwo road, all in Ogun East Senatorial District of the state.
He disclosed that over 600 kilometers of roads had been constructed across the state with about 243.3 kilometers of roads completed in the Ogun East Senatorial District, listing them to include, Chris-Ogunbajo-Erunwon, Palace road, Ijebu-Itele, Club-Balogun Kuku road, and the reconstruction of roads within Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, adding that work was ongoing on double self-culvert on Alaran river, Isiwo, Ijebu-Ode, Liberty road, Oru and the Awokoya road all in Ijebu-Ode.
Governor Abiodun noted that the ongoing commitment towards expanding the infrastructural development was geared towards rural accessibility and boosting agricultural productivity.
“We believe that inclusive governance is the bedrock of sustainable development. By engaging with our citizens, we ensure that our policies and budgets reflect the true needs and aspirations of our communities,” he said.
Earlier in his address, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan revealed that about 377 inputs were received during the last town Hall meetings held in 2023, stating that 340 inputs representing 90 percent were included in the budget, with a promise that the remaining 40 inputs would reflect in the 2025 budget and MTEF.
While urging the people of Ogun East Senatorial District to submit their inputs towards the planning and eventual implementation of the budget, the Commissioner disclosed that projects were equally implemented among the six Local Government Areas in the District.
In their separate remarks, Gbegande of Ososa, Oba Toye Alatishe and the Ebumawe of Ago-Iwoye, Oba Abdul-Rasaq Adenugba, commended the present administration for sustaining the town hall meeting, pledging their continued support in the realisation of ‘’Building our Future Together’’ agenda of the state government.
Meanwhile, a former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Suraj Adekunbi has enjoined well-to-do indigenes and members of the Legislative arm of governments to always give back to the local communities, in order to complement the efforts of the Executive arm in the provision of social amenities.
Adekunbi, said this in Ayetoro, during the commissioning of Primary Health Centre with one brand Hummer Ambulance Bus, situated at the Ayetoro Campus, Olabisi Onabanjo University, renovated Omidokun Ultra-Modern Town Hall, reconstructed Oja Oba-Rori road, Ayetoro, a newly completed storey building of 12 classrooms at Government Technical College, Ayetoro and many others, in Yewa North Local Government, facilitated by the Senator, representing, Ogun West, Senator Olamilekan Yayi.
The Ex-Speaker implored representatives of the people at the upper and lower chamber, as well as those in the House of Assembly, to ensure that welfare of their constituents was paramount to them, calling on the beneficiaries of those projects to put the facilities to good use.
On his part, the Honourable representing Isokan in the State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyanju Awoso lauded the efforts of the Senator for complementing Prince Dapo Abiodun-led administration in enhancing the infrastructural development at the grassroots.
On their separate remarks, the Iyaloja General of Ogun State, Alhaja Yemisi Abass, Basorun of Ayetoro, Alhaji Bisiriyu Popoola and an elder stateman, Elder Olu Agemo commanded the initiative of the Senator for executing the projects, promising to ensure their maintenance.
