Governor Ademola Adeleke, the governor of Osun State, has unveiled his administration’s development agenda for Iwo city in the Iwo Local Government area of Osun State.
The governor disclosed his government’s commitment to provide infrastructural upgrades in the community while attending the 32nd annual Iwo Day celebration held at Iwo Stadium on Saturday.
The governor, represented by Prince Kola Adewusi, his deputy, highlighted that he would adopt a public-private partnership model to execute some of the planned facilities and ensure timely delivery within the lifespan of his administration.
Speaking, the governor said, “I want to announce to Iwo residents that a number of projects have been earmarked for initiation and completion in Iwo town within the lifespan of this administration. A very critical focus is the completion of the Iwo-Osogbo road. We are committed to the completion of the project with high standards.”
He further mentioned that the popular Odo-Ori market would be upgraded jointly by the Iwo Local Government and the state to make it more appealing and continue to serve as a viable point for off-takers.
Adekele also stated that the state government was liaising with the federal government to ensure the completion of the Gbongan-Iwo-Oyo Road while promising that the state would expand the Odo-Ori roundabout in the ongoing reconstruction of the Iwo-Osogbo road.
“I have directed the Ministry of Works to look at possible expansion of the road from Odo-Ori to Odo-Oba. The planned expansion will also reach for some meters into Ejigbo road and a detour into town from Odo-Ori with a befitting roundabout. Completing Iwo-Osogbo road is the starting point of the infrastructural upgrade of Iwo town.
“The rehabilitation of Iwo water works is ongoing. My administration is working on the re-laying of new pipes to get water to our people. Your son is the Commissioner for Water Resources supervising the process.
“Our administration is further interfacing with the Federal Ministry of Works on the Gbongan -Iwo-Oyo road project. The Senator representing Osun West is following up on the project.
“On the Iwo -Ibadan boundary border dispute, I have reached out to my brother, the governor of Oyo state, and we both agreed to allow the statutory body, the National Boundary Commission, to resolve the issue. I assure Iwo people that all efforts are being deployed to ensure no inch of our land is taken from us.
“Our administration is also working with the Iwo local government for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Odo-Ori market. Under a state-local government joint project, the Odo-Ori market is billed to be redesigned to serve as a regional market where off-takers can regularly meet farmers among others.”
Adekele advised the community to produce an implementable community development plan, saying he believed in that kind of initiative because it allowed for local ownership of public projects.