Daniel’s 260-metre road: No Substandard Roads, No Propaganda – Ogun Govt

The Ogun State Government has declared that it will not compromise on quality or allow substandard projects to be executed in the state, stressing that residents deserve durable infrastructure rather than “propaganda-driven distractions.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, stated this on Wednesday while dismissing claims that Governor Dapo Abiodun was imposing unusually strict technical standards on the Paddy Arikawe Oye-Igbimo Road project in Sagamu.

The road is a constituency project proposed by Senator Gbenga Daniel, who represents Ogun East senatorial district.

Akinmade explained that the specifications demanded from the contractor, Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited, were the same as those applied to all state road projects, designed to ensure public safety. He disclosed that the contractor’s initial drawings failed to meet Federal Ministry of Works (FMW) standards, prompting the state government to issue a letter on September 22, 2025, requesting corrections before approval.

“It is pertinent to state that whenever Ogun State Government wants to work on any FG road, it is statutory and mandatory that we must get necessary clearance from the Federal Ministry of Works, and this has been the practice since the previous administration,” the statement read.

According to him, the government discovered that the contractor planned to construct only 300 metres out of the 3,000-metre stretch — just 10 percent of the project — despite the state already carrying out palliative works and finalising designs for the entire road.

He stressed that the directive issued by the state’s Ministry of Works was not “interference” in a federal initiative, but a constitutional duty to protect residents’ interests.

“The Ogun State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure identified clear technical shortcomings in the contractor’s proposal, and dragging Mr. President into this matter is a needless distraction,” Akinmade said.

“How can anyone describe the Ogun State Government’s insistence on higher-grade concrete, stronger stone base layers, reinforced tensile strength, and full compliance with Federal Ministry of Works standards as political, if not for sinister motives?”

He added that Governor Abiodun’s administration will remain committed to transparency, accountability, and long-lasting development.

“The Ogun State Government will not compromise on quality. The people of Ogun deserve roads that stand the test of time, not propaganda-driven distractions. The antics of the OGD media team will not succeed. The facts remain clear,” the statement concluded.