According to the Nigerian Tribune, Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has pledged to consistently appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure the federal government releases the funds needed for the reconstruction of the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha Road.
While addressing journalists in Abuja, Umahi emphasized that the road is a vital national asset in dire need of rehabilitation, citing its dilapidated condition and the hardship it has caused commuters.
He admitted that current federal allocations are insufficient to carry out the reconstruction, but he committed to sustaining pressure on the President for funding support.
“The road is in a very bad state,” Umahi remarked, adding that temporary repair efforts have been undertaken to make it passable.
He revealed that although the Ibadan-Ilesha route had long been recognised in official records as a failing federal road, its significance was further stressed by the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.
“Before the matter even reached the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the First Lady personally contacted me and urged an on-site visit, highlighting the distress faced by citizens along that stretch,” he said.
The minister pointed out that only N70 billion has been earmarked for the road project from 2003 to 2025—a figure he described as severely lacking.
Umahi also noted that his ministry has grouped the Ibadan-Ilesha Road with other key routes like the Ilesha-Akure-Benin Road (already awarded at N751 billion) and the Ore-Benin Road, submitting the entire corridor for consideration at the FEC for comprehensive funding.
“These roads are in very poor shape. We’re using the little available resources for temporary fixes while pursuing full funding for complete reconstruction,” he explained.
“I want to assure Nigerians that I will not allow Mr President to rest until he gives me the money to fix this road. And I believe he will,” the minister added.
In another development, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the creation of the Creative and Tourism Infrastructure Corporation (CTICo), which aims to attract $100 billion in investments and generate over two million jobs nationwide.
Furthermore, the Council greenlit several creative sector initiatives, including the Creative Economy Development Fund (CEDF), the rollout of an Intellectual Property (IP) Monetisation Pilot, and the Creative Leap Acceleration Programme (CLAP)—a digital platform offering financial support, technology tools, and shared workspaces for creative businesses.
Minister of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy, Barrister Hannatu Musa Musawa, made these announcements during the 2025 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Abuja on Friday. She revealed that the ministry had secured $200 million in investment commitments over the last 18 months.
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