Former presidential adviser, Babafemi Ojudu, has challenged Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, over his claims on the status of federal road projects across the South-West, saying several roads listed as ongoing are either abandoned or in deplorable condition.
Ojudu, a former Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Political Matters, specifically faulted the governor’s description of some federal roads in Ekiti State as being under construction.
He made his position known in a statement on Monday while reacting to the list of federal road projects highlighted by Abiodun during the flag-off of the reconstruction and dualisation of the 56.5-kilometre Ijebu-Ode-Ibadan Road.
The former presidential aide said although he could not speak authoritatively on the condition of every federal road in the South-West, he was familiar with the situation in Ekiti State and insisted that some of the projects mentioned by Abiodun were not currently active.
“Governor Dapo Abiodun, I have just listened to you reel off a list of roads supposedly under construction across Yorubaland. Please, always get your facts right,” Ojudu said.
He cited the Ado-Ekiti–Aramoko Road, which he said was listed as being under construction, but claimed that “no work is currently going on there.”
Ojudu also disputed the status of the Ado-Ekiti road leading towards the Akoko axis of Ondo State, passing through Afe Babalola University, saying construction had long been abandoned.
He expressed concern over the condition of the road, particularly its impact on the founder of Afe Babalola University, Aare Afe Babalola.
“Anyone who has visited Aare Afe Babalola recently will know how deeply distressed he is by its abandonment. He has raised his voice repeatedly, appealing to everyone who might listen, to the point that his voice has almost become hoarse,” he said.
Ojudu further listed the Ado-Ekiti–Akure Road and the Ondo–Ore Road among projects he said remained incomplete or abandoned.
He also described the Ado-Ekiti–Oye–Ilupeju–Omuo Road as “virtually impassable,” while alleging that the Ido-Ekiti–Ijero-Ekiti Road was in a similarly deplorable condition.
“These are federal roads, and they have either collapsed, been abandoned or remain painfully incomplete,” he said.
His comments came as the Federal Government formally flagged off the reconstruction and dualisation of the Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan Road, a major road corridor linking Ogun and Oyo states.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Ibadan on Monday, President Bola Tinubu, represented by Abiodun, described the road as a critical economic artery connecting Ibadan, Ijebu-Ode and the Lekki economic axis.
The President said the project was expected to improve mobility, reduce transportation costs, strengthen commerce, facilitate the movement of agricultural produce and create employment opportunities.
The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, disclosed that the Federal Government had also directed the immediate reconstruction and dualisation of the 70-kilometre Ibadan–Abeokuta Road, adding that the procurement process had commenced.
Umahi said Oyo State currently had 17 major road projects out of 47 Federal Government projects being executed across the South-West.
He also cited other projects, including the Badagry–Sokoto Road, the Oyo–Ogbomoso Road and the resuscitated Oyo–Ibadan Road.
The Ijebu-Ode–Ibadan project, awarded on May 5, 2026, commenced on July 11 and is expected to be completed by June 10, 2029.
But Ojudu warned that government claims about road projects must be matched by visible work on the ground.
With elections approaching, he said the condition of federal roads would increasingly become an issue for voters across the region.
“Elections are approaching, and these realities will matter to the people. Speeches and lists cannot take the place of motorable roads,” Ojudu said.
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