Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday commissioned the Onyearugbulem–Shagari/Irese Road Flyover and Junction Improvement Project in Akure, describing it as a strategic infrastructure intervention expected to ease persistent traffic congestion and stimulate industrial and commercial development along the axis.
Shettima at the ceremony held along the Ilesha–Akure–Owo Expressway, said the project would significantly improve traffic circulation, enhance road safety, and open up the corridor for increased economic activities.
He commended the Ondo State Government for what he described as a timely intervention at a critical transport node, noting that such infrastructure projects remain central to sustainable development and regional integration.
The Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, was joined at the event by his Ogun State counterpart, Governor Dapo Abiodun.
In his address, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the project as a historic achievement, stressing that it is the first flyover bridge constructed in Akure, the Ondo State capital.
He said the development goes beyond physical infrastructure, noting that it represents a deliberate effort to address long-standing traffic challenges, improve safety, and enhance economic productivity within the metropolis.
The governor recalled that the Onyearugbulem–Shagari and Akure–Benin Expressway intersection had, for years, remained a major flashpoint for recurrent accidents, severe traffic bottlenecks, and avoidable loss of productive time.
According to him, the corridor, being a key gateway into the South-West, had also suffered significant disruptions to economic activities due to persistent gridlock.
Governor Aiyedatiwa explained that the project was initiated under the administration of the late former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and sustained by his administration to ensure continuity and completion.
The Governor later named the flyover after the National Leader of the Afenifere, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, who clocked 100 years on Monday.
He said his government had, within the last one year, intensified infrastructure renewal across the state, guided by the conviction that quality infrastructure remains the backbone of economic growth, investment attraction, and improved quality of life.
The governor listed key projects to include the dualisation of the Akure–Idanre Road, Akungba–Ikare Road, Okitipupa–Igbokoda Road, and College Road in Igbokoda.
He also highlighted the rehabilitation and asphalt overlay of over 100 kilometres of roads across the three senatorial districts, including Akure–Ijare Road, Akure–Imafon Road, Aiyegunle–Oka Road, and Igbotako Road, among others.
Governor Aiyedatiwa noted that several of the projects have been completed and commissioned, while others are at advanced stages of execution.
He maintained that the Rueben Fasoranti Flyover remains one of the flagship projects of his administration, saying it has already improved traffic flow, reduced travel time, and enhanced safety along the busy corridor.
Governor Aiyedatiwa commended the contractors, engineers, consultants, and workers who delivered the project, noting that it was executed largely by indigenous professionals who demonstrated technical competence and capacity.
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He further expressed appreciation to residents of Akure for their patience during the construction phase, assuring that the project would serve the state for generations to come.
Dignitaries at the commissioning included state executive members, traditional rulers, security chiefs, among others.