Barr. Akeem Adedeji Agbaje, chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 2027 gubernatorial hopeful in Oyo State, has again stressed that the future of the state’s development rests heavily on the condition of its rural roads and infrastructure.
According to him, Oyo remains a predominantly agrarian state, where thousands of communities rely on access to markets, schools, and health facilities through rural and feeder roads. Yet, for decades, the neglect of these roads has created a barrier between the people and opportunities for progress.
“When farmers cannot move their produce, when students struggle to reach their schools, and when expectant mothers cannot access healthcare because of broken roads, it is not just an infrastructure failure, it is a failure of governance. We must change that.”
He observed that while Oyo has a wide network of roads linking its towns and villages, most rural routes remain degraded and often impassable, especially during the rainy season. Local Governments, constitutionally responsible for many of these roads, lack the financial independence and technical capacity to maintain them, leaving rural communities cut off and vulnerable.
Barr. Akeem Agbaje underscored that the state has both the historical foundation and present opportunities to turn things around. He recalled how in the past, Native Authorities (the then Local Government Councils) in Oyo State collected and retained revenue locally, and were able to build and maintain infrastructure that served their people effectively, with projects like Mapo Hall and early water supply schemes still standing as testaments to their efficiency.
He stressed that a return to this ethos of self-reliance and accountability supported by modern innovations is the way forward. Public-private partnerships, community-based maintenance models, and digital monitoring systems can all combine to create durable, sustainable infrastructure across the state.
For him, reform must focus not only on building new roads but also on creating a culture of proactive maintenance and linking road development to other sectors like agriculture, healthcare, and education. He pointed to emerging projects designed to connect rural communities with urban markets as examples of how infrastructure can directly reduce poverty, expand trade, and strengthen livelihoods.
“Every kilometre of rural road rehabilitated is an investment in our farmers, our traders, our students, and our future. Roads are not just pathways of commerce but lifelines of opportunity.”
Barr. Agbaje concluded that Oyo State’s future prosperity cannot be achieved without prioritizing rural infrastructure. He pledged that under his leadership, roads would no longer be built for politics but for people, ensuring that every community, no matter how remote, is connected to the heartbeat of progress.
