Abiodun Unveils Wole Soyinka Train Station Road, Plans 20 New Roads Ahead of Ogun’s 50th Anniversary

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday officially unveiled the Laderin–Professor Wole Soyinka Train Station Road in Abeokuta, the state capital, while also revealing plans to commission 20 additional road projects across different parts of the state.

The governor explained that the upcoming road inaugurations are part of activities lined up to commemorate Ogun State’s 50th anniversary, scheduled for February 2026. Ogun State was created on February 13, 1976, during the military administration of the late General Murtala Muhammed, alongside states such as Oyo, Ondo, Benue, Bauchi, Borno, Imo, and Niger.

Speaking during the inauguration ceremony, Governor Abiodun disclosed that construction work is advancing steadily on the Sagamu Interchange–Papalanto–Opele Road, describing the project as a 100-kilometre strategic East–West highway designed to enhance connectivity within the state.

According to him, the highway is expected to serve as a major alternative route for motorists once completed, reducing traffic pressure on Abeokuta while improving access to other parts of the country. He added that the road would also unlock new economic opportunities by opening up previously underserved corridors for commercial activities.

The governor further highlighted the importance of the project, describing it as a key pillar of the state’s ongoing infrastructure renewal efforts. He explained that the road runs from Sagamu Interchange through Papalanto to Opele, covering approximately 100 kilometres in total length.

Governor Abiodun revealed that the road had been fully shut to allow for comprehensive reconstruction. He noted that within the Sagamu Interchange to Papalanto axis, which spans about 40 kilometres, nearly 25 kilometres have already been rebuilt using reinforced concrete, a method chosen to ensure durability and long-term performance.

He added that once the project is completed, vehicles transporting goods and services from Ota, Ifo, and Ewekoro would no longer need to pass through the Abeokuta–Sagamu Expressway. Instead, they would be able to connect directly to Papalanto and access the expressway, easing congestion and improving logistics efficiency.

Governor Abiodun also described the Professor Wole Soyinka Train Station as a significant transportation landmark that links Ogun State to Lagos, Oyo State, and northern Nigeria. He noted that Ogun State hosts five functional train stations, a development that reflects the state’s strategic position in Nigeria’s broader economic and transportation framework.

He explained that although access roads were not initially constructed alongside the railway infrastructure, his administration chose to rehabilitate the Laderin road in line with its multimodal transportation policy, aimed at integrating road, rail, and other transport systems.

The governor disclosed that between 100,000 and 150,000 passengers, including business investors, travel daily between Ogun, Lagos, and Oyo States, underscoring the importance of efficient access routes to rail facilities.

He further stated that the newly unveiled train station road forms part of over 1,600 kilometres of roads constructed across the state. He added that while one lane of the Atan–Lusada–Agbara Road has been completed, construction work has already commenced on the second lane.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Lateef Yusuf, explained that the three-kilometre road would provide direct access to the MKO Abiola Trade Fair Complex, as well as Laderin, Lukosi, and surrounding communities. He noted that the road would significantly ease movement while stimulating commercial growth in the area.

Also speaking, a former member of the House of Representatives and the Osi of Egbaland, Chief Bode Mustapha, recalled the previously deplorable condition of the road, describing the newly completed project as a major improvement over past challenges.