Shettima Inaugurates 76 Km Highway In Oyo State, Calls It ‘A Vital Artery Linking Communities’

Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday inaugurated a new 76.76 km Iseyin-Fapote-Ogbomoso highway in Oyo State, before noting that this project was aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's economic vision of developing states through infrastructure.

During the ceremony, the vice president addressed the crowd, and said the long-stretched road was "like a bridge that connects us to our aspirations and a vital artery linking communities not just within Oyo, but across geopolitical zones," as per the official State House website.

He explained that every well-built road helped the economy of its surroundings by linking producers to markets, workers to job opportunities, students to schools and the sick to hospitals.

The vice president emphasized the importance of development, as it enables agriculture, commerce, and urbanization. He said without good roads, it is hard to keep promises to people or maintain democracy.

"The level of development experienced in a society is directly proportional to the length and quality of its road network, as roads serve as the forerunners of development," he added.

Shettima praised Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for the infrastructural vision, highlighting that this new highway project was a catalyst for economic activity in the region and national cohesion.

He also said the Oyo State held a special place in his heart. "Not only for being a land of my firsts, from academic achievements to infrastructural innovations but also as my second home, as a proud product of Nigeria's premier university, the University of Ibadan," the vice president added.

"Oyo State holds a pivotal role in our nation's economy and will always remain a top priority in our efforts to stabilize and promote unity and peace across the nation," he added.

Makinde also spoke during the highway launch and said they decided to build the Adebayo Alao Akala Memorial Expressway based on data, science and logic to build infrastructure that would help to boost the state's economy and make Oyo State modern.

The governor emphasized that the 76.67 km road was designed to facilitate intra-city, inter-city and inter-state movement of the people, goods and services, stressing that Oyo State needed all-round development for sustainable development.