Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that his administration has completed over 150 housing units out of the more than 200 planned under the Ibara Government Reservation Area (GRA) Regeneration Project in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Abiodun disclosed this while inspecting the progress of work on the site, noting that the project is part of his government’s Urban Regeneration Scheme aimed at transforming Abeokuta into a modern and befitting capital city.
According to the governor, the former state of the Ibara GRA had become an eyesore with several dilapidated structures serving as hideouts for criminals and being occupied illegally by residents who turned themselves into landlords.
He explained that the regeneration initiative began in March after several consultations with the affected occupants, most of whom were residing illegally on the property.
“But because it was not our desire to make people homeless, we discussed with them, we agreed on different terms and managed to do what previous administrations either did not envision, have the foresight to do, or lacked the political will to achieve,” he said.
Abiodun added that his government planned between 213 and 220 houses for the project, either to be built directly by the state or allocated to developers to construct in line with approved designs.
“Till date, we have about 150 houses already built, others at different stages of completion and this is just the beginning,” the governor stated.
He assured that similar regeneration projects would be replicated across other GRAs in Ogun State, noting that the initiative was not limited to Abeokuta alone.
“Let me assure you, this level of development is not situated just in Ogun Central. As we are building and regenerating in Abeokuta, we’ve done the same in Yewa, with affordable housing units in Ilaro. Kobape has almost 600 houses and still counting. In Sagamu, we have other affordable housing schemes in Sagamu and Iperu, leading to the airport, and also in Ijebu-Ode,” Abiodun added.
While expressing confidence in his administration’s performance, the governor maintained that his government had constructed more roads in six years than any other administration in 16 years.
“I am throwing a challenge to my detractors and opponents. I stand to be corrected, if we have not constructed more roads in six years than anybody else has constructed in a 16-year period, I think that is enough to reply those that are sponsoring faceless videos and negative narratives on social media,” he said.
Abiodun reaffirmed his commitment to delivering on his promises, saying his administration remains accountable to the people of Ogun State and not to what he described as “faceless” critics on social media.
