Why we can’t renovate Abeokuta train station road – Ogun Govt

The Ogun State Government has said reconstruction on the Laderin-Train Station road in Abeokuta, the state capital, cannot begin unless the Federal Government grants approval.

Recall that in 2023, some residents of Laderin, Olokuta, and Idi-Aba communities in the Abeokuta South Local Government area of the state had lamented the deplorable state of the road.

The road connects over 40 communities and serves as a main link to the popular Wole Soyinka Train Station.

Residents and commuters described the condition of the road as hellish, especially when it rains.

Responding to the agitation, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Engr Ade Akinsanya noted that the government had already programmed the road for reconstruction.

However, the state government on Tuesday in a post made on its X handle said the worn-out pathway leading to the train station falls under the purview of the Federal Government and requires permission from the Minister of Works before reconstruction can begin.

The post reads: “On the worn-out pathway leading to the Abeokuta train station!

“This is a matter close to our hearts. Enhancing this route holds promise of rendering train travel more enjoyable.

“Yet, we tread cautiously, refraining from vocalizing our concerns, lest it be misconstrued as making excuses.

“Debates ensue, tangled in bureaucratic intricacies, as this particular stretch, albeit short, falls under the purview of the Federal Government, responsible for its upkeep.

“To embark on reconstruction, the State Government requires a permission from the Minister. However, obtaining such authorization proves a sluggish ordeal, hindered by bureaucratic inertia.

“It’s noteworthy that the Station Complex was conceptualized to coincide with the development of its surrounding arteries, an integral part of the overarching scheme.

“Recent developments have seen the Federal Government granting approval for the Ogun State Government to undertake the reconstruction of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Road, a triumph after years of persistent appeals by the incumbent Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun.”