Noisy road repairs rarely make for good politics, but in Ogun State, they’ve become the soundtrack of governance. Governor Dapo Abiodun seems intent on proving that asphalt is policy, and that potholes, not press releases, will define his time in office.
The governor, who returned for a second term in 2023, has promised that no part of the state will be left behind. From Ifo to Idiroko, construction crews work across federal and state roads, some of which had been neglected for decades. His office lists a dizzying roll of repairs: the Sango-Ijoko-Agbado-Oke Aro-Lambe-Akute road, the 140-kilometre Sango Ota-Abeokuta stretch, and nearly two dozen other arteries crisscrossing the state.
Critics call the pace selective, accusing the administration of political bias in its project choices. Abiodun’s team insists otherwise. “We inherited a massive infrastructure deficit,” his spokesman said recently, urging patience and warning against “opposition mischief.” The government claims that about half the projects are already completed or near completion, weather permitting.
To his supporters, Abiodun is finally answering the calls of Ogun’s long-suffering residents. In Ota, traders whisper thanks for smoother rides to the market. In Agbado, the new drainage channels are proof that someone in Abeokuta is listening. Whether these improvements outlast the photo ops remains to be seen.
It helps that Abiodun isn’t a newcomer to management. A former oil magnate and power investor, he has run Ogun like a sprawling enterprise: focused, pragmatic, occasionally aloof. His “Building Our Future Together” agenda, anchored on infrastructure, welfare, and youth empowerment, has earned him national awards, including Forbes’ “Best of Africa” honour for industrial revolution.
Still, the question lingers: will the governor’s many roads lead to a lasting legacy? For now, Ogun’s residents seem willing to keep faith, content to measure progress in kilometres rather than headlines. After all, when the people called, Abiodun, at least, answered.
