About a year ago, I had an experience that summed up the state of Ibadan roads at the time. I was driving from Housing towards Awolowo when I hit a huge pothole just before Platinum. In a moment, two tyres were gone. I had no choice but to turn back, park inside Copacapana Lounge, and return home in frustration. That was the reality many of us faced on a daily basis.
Today, the difference is clear. I can now drive from Awolowo to Bodija, Ashi, and Bashorun without fear of damage or discomfort. What was once a nightmare has become a smooth, stress-free journey. The transformation is not only visible but also deeply felt by those who use these roads every day.
It is no exaggeration to say that anyone who plies these routes from Bodija to Awolowo, Ashi to Bashorun, down to Molete cannot remain indifferent. They will likely whisper a prayer for Governor Seyi Makinde for the relief and convenience these roads now bring.
Ibadan is one of Nigeria’s oldest and largest cities, yet for decades its road network was a major source of pain for residents. Under Governor Makinde, the story is changing. His approach has not been about patching here and there. Instead, the focus has been on rebuilding roads properly, with efficiency and durability in mind.
By late 2023, the state had awarded contracts covering nearly 96 kilometres of feeder and inner roads. By mid-2024, over 38 kilometres had already been completed in parts of Ibadan South West, North West, and South East. Roads such as Mile-110 Ring Road in Challenge, Iyaganku Quarters Road, Agodi Gate–Molete, Idi Arere–Molete, and the General Gas–Denzengolf stretch are part of this effort. These projects have reduced travel time, eased traffic pressure, and improved business access. For traders and shop owners along these routes, more customers are now coming their way.
Beyond the inner roads, the Makinde administration has also revived the Ibadan Circular Road, a 110-kilometre expressway first conceived under Governor Rashidi Ladoja. Under Makinde, the East Wing about 32.2 kilometres from the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to Badeku is nearing completion.
The importance of this project is huge. It will provide a bypass for heavy vehicles, reduce gridlock in the city centre, save travel time, and open up new economic corridors. For a city as strategic as Ibadan, this is the kind of forward-looking infrastructure that can shape its future.
As someone who has lived through the “before” and “after,” I can testify that progress is real. The potholes that once defined Ibadan roads are giving way to smoother, safer journeys. The gains are obvious, but they must be protected. The government must ensure that traders and roadside markets do not erode the benefits of these investments.
There is a challenge that must be addressed. With so much money already invested in roads, it would be unwise to allow traders and market women to take over the carriageways. Many of them display goods on the road, reducing access for motorists and defeating the very purpose of these new projects. Government must act decisively to reclaim the full use of the roads if this transformation is to last.
Governor Makinde has taken a bold step to place Ibadan on the path of modern growth. If the momentum continues, and if discipline is maintained, the city can truly reclaim its place as the heartbeat of the South West.
Gbenga Oyetola, publisher of Oyomind, writes via +2348132974814 Email: adeoyeoluwagbemiga@gmail.com