The lawmaker representing Oyo North in The Senate , Dr. Abdulfatai Buhari, on Thursday raised the alarm that the old Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway was no more motorable since Monday.
According to Buhari who doubles as Chairman, Senate Committee on Information and Communication Technology (ICT), and Cyber Crimes, the delay in the completion of the new Oyo-Ogbomoso Expressway which he said was half done was causing a lot of hardship to the people of the area and the state in general.
The Ogbomoso-born former House of Representatives member spoke at a Special Town Hall meeting organised by the Federal Government of Nigeria held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
At the event were Ministers of Transportation, Power, Works and Housing and Information and Culture, Mr. Rotimi Amaachi, Mr. Babatunde Fashola and Alhaji Lai Muhammed respectively.
Others were Governor Abiola Ajimobi, All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in the state, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji who was represented by Chief Lekan Alabi.
The APC chieftain said it would interest the audience that “no motor can pass the old Oyo-Ogbomoso Express Way since three days ago.”
Buhari, who spoke in both Yoruba and Hausa languages, also used the medium to appeal to the Federal Government delegation to as a matter of urgency find ways of mobilising the contractor handling the project to complete it without further delay.
He added that it was unfortunate that the road construction which started in 1999 is yet to be completed.
Buhari said, “The new Oyo-Ogbomoso Express Way is half-completed. But I can tell you that since three days ago, no vehicle can pass through the old Oyo-Ogbomoso Express Way. The construction of the road started in 1999 during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo administration and the road is yet to be completed.
“No motor can pass the old Oyo-Ogbomoso Express Way since three days ago. The new road has not been completed.
“I use this opportunity to appeal to the Federal Government delegation to complete the new Oyo-Ogbomoso Express Way on time.
“Secondly, the Iseyin-Oyo road, please, held us to reconstruct the road. It is the gateway to other towns and villages in the area.
Reiterating, Hon. Akeem Adeyemi who represents AFIJIO/Atiba/Oyo East/Oyo West in the House of Representatives also urged the delegation to see to the plight of the people of Ogbomoso and Oyo, who in the last one decade have been appealing to the Federal Government for the construction of the Expressway.
