The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the rehabilitation of the long-neglected Osogbo–Iwo–Ibadan road, describing the move as a major relief for commuters and residents.

Speaking on Sunday in Iwo on behalf of traditional rulers in Osun West Senatorial District, the monarch said the reconstruction of the 90.9-kilometre road would significantly ease transportation challenges and boost economic activities between Osun and Oyo states.

He lamented that the road, which serves as a major link between several communities, had been abandoned for nearly a decade, worsening travel time and increasing hardship for road users.

According to him, the road had suffered structural deficiencies shortly after its completion in 1990, prompting repeated but insufficient interventions by successive administrations.

Oba Akanbi disclosed that he had, at a point, personally intervened by patching failed portions of the road with cement after appeals to the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari failed to yield results.

“I took it upon myself to make the road motorable by patching critical portions after several efforts to get government attention did not succeed,” he said.

Providing historical insight, the monarch explained that the road project was originally awarded in 1977 in two segments — Ibadan–Iwo and Osogbo–Iwo — and handled by multiple contractors before its eventual inauguration in 1990.

He added that despite periodic rehabilitation efforts, including those during the tenure of former Osun State Governor, Bisi Akande, the road continued to deteriorate.

The traditional ruler further revealed that the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, had earlier assured him of the Federal Government’s plan to take over and fully reconstruct the road.

Also speaking, the Akire of Ikire, Oba Abdulazeez Olatunbosun Adebamiji, described the project as a true dividend of democracy, noting that the intervention would revive economic activities and improve connectivity across the region.

Similarly, the Alayemore of Ido-Osun, Oba Olayinka Oyetunde Ishola, said the development followed sustained advocacy by traditional rulers, expressing optimism that more federal projects would be attracted to the district.

Stakeholders noted that commuters had, over the years, resorted to alternative routes, spending up to three hours on a journey that should ordinarily take less than one hour due to the deplorable state of the road.

They, however, expressed hope that the reconstruction would mark a turning point in the socio-economic development of the affected communities.