Ogun State’s Urban Regeneration Project Gains Momentum
The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has announced that his administration’s urban regeneration project is making steady progress. Over 150 houses have already been completed out of more than 200 planned for the Ibara Government Reservation Area in Abeokuta, the state capital.
Abiodun emphasized that his administration remains focused on serving the people of the state and will not be swayed by what he described as faceless opposition on social media platforms like Facebook. In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, after inspecting the ongoing housing construction within the Ibara GRA, the governor stated that his team would continue to pursue its goals undeterred by “frustrated individuals.”
He pointed out that those behind the social media criticism had failed to achieve similar progress when they had the opportunity, attributing it to either a lack of foresight or a poor understanding of governance.
A New Era of Development
Abiodun also highlighted that his administration has surpassed the road construction records of his predecessors, former Governors Gbenga Daniel and Ibikunle Amosun, within six years in office. He explained that the regeneration process began in March after several town hall meetings and consultations with residents, many of whom were illegal occupants who had turned themselves into landlords.
“We did not want to make people homeless, so we agreed on different terms with them and managed to achieve what previous administrations either did not envision, lacked the foresight to do, or didn’t have the political will to accomplish,” Abiodun said.
He added that the goal was to convince the people that the future is here and now, and that Ogun State’s capital cannot continue to look the way it did. The highbrow area called the GRA in Abeokuta required transformation, and the process began with clearing the area, demolishing dilapidated structures, and implementing the regeneration scheme.
Expanding the Vision
The governor noted that about 213 to 220 houses were earmarked for construction in the area, either directly by the state government or by private developers through the Ministry of Housing. So far, 150 houses have been built, while others are at different stages of completion — and this is just the beginning.
Abiodun described the former state of the Ibara GRA as an eyesore, noting that the dilapidated buildings had become hideouts for criminals and were being occupied illegally. He added that similar regeneration projects would be replicated across other GRAs in the state to provide modern housing for residents.
“Let me assure you, this level of development is not limited to Ogun Central. As we are building and regenerating Abeokuta, we are also doing the same in Yewa, where we have affordable housing units in Ilaro. Kobape has almost 600 houses and is still counting. In Sagamu, we have affordable housing schemes in Sagamu and Iperu, leading to the airport, and also in Ijebu-Ode,” he said.
Addressing Concerns
Despite these developments, there have been complaints from residents about the poor state of several roads in the state. Recently, residents have taken to social media to appeal to the governor for urgent intervention in fixing roads, particularly in Sango Ota, Ifo, Alagbole, and Akute, among others.
Abiodun boasted that his administration has constructed more roads in six years than any previous administration did in 16 years. “If we have not constructed more roads in six years than anyone else did in 16 years, then I stand to be corrected. That alone is enough response to those sponsoring faceless videos and negative narratives on social media,” he said.
Broader Impact of the Initiative
It will be recalled that in 2024, the state government launched an urban regeneration initiative for the Ibara Housing Estate, aimed at transforming the area into a modern and vibrant city centre. The project involves infrastructural upgrades within the Ibara GRA, including road repairs, drainage, culvert maintenance, electrification, and water supply improvement, to enhance residents’ quality of life.
The regeneration drive has also been extended to other GRAs across the state, including Sagamu, Igbeba in Ijebu-Ode, and Ilaro. Under the scheme, development is segmented into clusters, with Cluster One covering three hectares of land designed as a thriving urban centre with 35 duplexes. The area has been further subdivided into plots, including 60 plots for 12 semi-detached units and 47 fully detached units.