Capture of Abeokuta-Igboora-Iseyin-Sokoto road in 2022 budget, culmination of legislative efforts — Hon Muraina

Indication has emerged that the people plying the Abeokuta-Iseyin-Sokoto road will soon heave a sigh of relief as rehabilitation of the roads has been captured in the 2022 budget appropriation.

This was disclosed by a lawmaker representing the Ibarapa Central/Ibarapa North Federal Constituency in the 9th House of Representatives, Hon. Muraina Ajibola. He disclosed this while informing members of his constituents on the legislative efforts that culminated in the inclusion of these roads in the 2022 budget.

In a statement issued and made available to Rulers’ World by the Special Adviser on Media to the lawmaker, Mr Olubunmi Sodipo, the inclusion of these roads followed a motion moved on Tuesday 1st December 2020 on the gruesome murder of a popular trado-medical practitioner, Alhaji Fatai Yusuf (a.k.a. Oko Oloyun) and continued with subsequent follow-ups.

According to the statement, “the motion titled: Need To Investigate the Gruesome Murder of a Popular Trado-Medical Practitioner, Alh Fatai Yusuf (a.k.a Oko Oloyun) consisted of five resolutions among which was a call on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to carry out rehabilitation work on the Abeokuta-Igboora-Iseyin-Sokoto road;
mandate the Committees on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Police Affairs to ensure compliance.

Further legislative efforts in the form of a 28th June 2021 letter to FERMA, pursuant to the votes and proceedings of the motion, was eventually responded to by FERMA resulting in the capture of the rehabilitation of the road in the 2022 budget of FERMA.

The Clerk, FERMA House of Representatives Committee (9th National Assembly) M Kyari, acknowledged this position in a message to Hon Dr Ajibola Muraina thus: “This is to inform you that sequel to your motion on the need to rehabilitate Abeokuta-Igboora-Iseyin-Sokoto road debated on 1st December 2020 and referred to the committee on FERMA to ensure compliance, the committee has forwarded the request to FERMA and the rehabilitation of the road has been captured in the 2022 budget of the agency. You may wish to check the budget for confirmation”.

The statement further added that although the budget is still passing through the scrutiny of the National Assembly, it is important to bring the people in Ibarapa Central/ Ibarapa North Federal Constituency, Oyo State up to speed on this very important matter relating to the repair of this road where several lives have unfortunately been lost.

Hon Muraina expressed his happiness that with the capturing of the Abeokuta-Igboora-Iseyin road rehabilitation in the 2022 budget, the desire of the people in Igangan, Tapa, Ayete, Idere and Igbo-Ora for a motorable road to enhance socio-economic activities and integration with other parts of Oyo State and Nigeria will be met and the smooth ride that will result therefrom will result in the reduction of crimes on the road if it is not eliminated.