Ododo inaugurates 38.5km road to reconnect Bunu communities

Gov. Ahmed Ododo of Kogi on Thursday, inaugurated the construction of the 38.5km Kabba-Olle-Bunu-Iluke-Bunu Road in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area.

It was reported that the ceremony drew a mammoth crowd of residents, bringing renewed hope to communities that have endured decades of poor road infrastructure and limited access to economic opportunities.

In his remarks, Ododo described the project as the fulfilment of a long-standing aspiration of the people of Bunu land.

The governor assured the people that his administration would not abandon any community, irrespective of its location.

He said the road would mark a new chapter in the history of the area, reconnecting communities that had remained isolated for years.

The governor recalled how the deplorable condition of the road had affected farmers, businesses and residents, forcing farmers to struggle to transport their produce to markets.

He stressed that many indigenes living outside the state found it difficult to visit their ancestral homes.

He disclosed that his personal experience during a visit to Iluke-Bunu, following a security incident involving students, further strengthened his determination to rehabilitate the road.

Ododo explained that the project was part of his administration’s commitment to complementing the restoration of security with tangible development.

He noted that peace without infrastructure and economic opportunities would remain incomplete.

Ododo acknowledged the support of President Bola Tinubu through his policies and economic reforms.

He described the increased financial resources available to state governments, following the Federal Government’s economic reforms as an important factor in enabling subnational governments to execute major infrastructure projects.

He urged residents to embrace unity and take ownership of the project by monitoring its execution, protecting construction equipment and ensuring that quality standards were maintained.

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr Kingsley Fanwo, described the inauguration as a historic moment, particularly because of his personal connection to Bunu land.

Fanwo recalled trekking from Iluke to Ole-Bunu because of the deplorable condition of the road, which he said had remained in terrible condition for more than 35 years.

He said the project would open up several communities in Bunu to greater economic and social opportunities, adding that generations yet unborn would remember the intervention.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Education, an indigene of the benefitting community, expressed appreciation to the governor, describing the project as a major breakthrough for residents who had suffered years of hardship because of the inaccessible road.

He said its completion would improve agricultural transportation, attract businesses, support existing investments in electricity and education, and contribute to reducing criminal activities by improving movement and accessibility.

Speaking on behalf of the contractor, the Kogi State Project Supervisor of TEC Engineering, Simon Xu, disclosed that the project had an 18-month completion period.

Xu assured the government and residents of the company’s readiness to deliver quality work, explaining that its experience in Nigeria and availability of equipment and personnel would support timely execution.

He also appealed for cooperation from host communities to ensure the safety of workers and construction equipment throughout the project period.