The Ogun State government, on Friday, said it is already working on the rehabilitation of Agbado-Oke Aro-Akute road.

The government was reacting to a video that captured 500 pastors urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to rehabilitate the road in fulfilment of his re-election pledge.

In a statement issued by the State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ade Akinsanya, the state government, affirmed that it had never shirked its responsibilities in the area of road construction, having constructed over 600 kilometres of roads since coming on board in 2019.

It added that it had already completed half of the Alagbole-Sango Ota road and that the remaining axis was captured in this year’s budget.

It, however, added that the slight delay experienced in executing the project is due to budgetary issues and the spike in the cost of construction materials, saying that the constraints were being addressed.

The government also urged residents of the area to fulfil their tax obligations to the state and assist the government in delivering on democratic dividends.

Akinsanya said: “With respect to completing the project to relieve the pains of our people and infuse a new lease of life into the area, we are on the same page with the clerics captured in the video demanding action on the road.

“It is the constitutional responsibility of the government to provide good roads for the people of Ogun State, and it is a fact that the Ogun State government under Prince Dapo Abiodun has invested heavily on roads.

“This particular road, Alagbole to Sango Ota, is about 32 km, and the government has already done 16 km out of it. More importantly, it is also captured in the 2024 budget.

However, the budgetary provision based on the reality on the ground, particularly in relation to forex, is inadequate. The cost of asphalt, granite, and other materials have spiked, and so the government is looking at a way of bridging the cost gap. As we all know, a project initially billed to cost N1bn may cost more than double nowadays. Therefore, it requires a lot of reengineering.

“Rather than engage in subtle blackmail and character assassination, what we need are concerted efforts to put the economy back on track.

“The citizenry must also support the government to get out of the economic quagmire by paying their taxes.

“Statistics show that most residents of the area are not captured in the tax net. They should support the government by paying their taxes when due to help them better.”