The Oyo State Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal, has commissioned a newly constructed office complex for the Executive Chairman of Egbeda Local Government Area of the state.
The commissioning took place on Friday at the council secretariat in Egbeda, Ibadan, during an event that also featured the presentation of awards to former chairmen of the local government.
Lawal said Egbeda was strategically positioned for accelerated development because of several major projects currently being implemented within and around the council area.
Among the projects he highlighted were the Ibadan Circular Road, the Air Force Base in Ajia and the Ajoda Housing Estate. According to him, the projects could transform Egbeda into an important development corridor within Ibadan and Oyo State.
The deputy governor appealed to residents and property owners affected by the Ibadan Circular Road project to support the development, describing it as a long-term investment in the state’s future.
He assured residents whose properties were affected by the project that they would be compensated in accordance with government policy and the overriding public interest.
Lawal said the government was taking lessons from the development pattern around the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where unplanned settlements emerged around the highway after its construction.
He said the Circular Road corridor would instead be subjected to proper planning to guide development over the next two to three decades.
According to him, the objective is to prevent the emergence of poorly planned settlements and ensure that infrastructure development is accompanied by appropriate land-use planning.
He described Egbeda as a strategic area within Ibadan, surrounded by projects capable of stimulating economic and physical development.
The deputy governor also commissioned the chairman’s quarters, saying the building was funded through the council’s internally generated revenue.
The Executive Chairman of Egbeda Local Government, Sikiru Sanda, described the project as one of the major legacies of his administration.
Sanda said the office complex was fully financed through the council’s internally generated revenue, adding that the project demonstrated the council’s effort to use available resources for infrastructure development.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Seyi Makinde for what he described as the platform and autonomy provided to local governments to pursue development projects.
Sanda also pledged to continue working on projects aimed at improving the welfare of residents throughout his tenure.
The Head of Administration of Egbeda Local Government, Monsurat Ayo-Alaga, said the new office building reflected the council’s commitment to prudent financial management, accountability and responsible use of public resources.
She also said the recognition of former council chairmen provided an opportunity to acknowledge their contributions to the development of the local government.
The event was attended by members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, traditional rulers, religious leaders, local government officials and other stakeholders.
The Oyo State Government has identified local government development as part of its wider governance responsibilities, with the state executive comprising the governor, deputy governor and other appointed officials overseeing implementation of government programmes.
The commissioning comes as infrastructure development around Egbeda continues to attract attention because of its proximity to major projects and emerging development corridors.
Lawal said the state government’s approach was intended to ensure that current infrastructure investments would continue to benefit future generations through better planning and coordinated development.
The deputy governor urged residents to cooperate with the government and security agencies while development projects are being executed, stressing that some short-term disruptions may be necessary to achieve longer-term infrastructure and economic objectives.
The Oyo Government’s compensation assurance is expected to remain important to residents whose properties are affected by the Circular Road project, particularly as construction and associated development continue across the corridor.
For Egbeda Local Government, the new chairman’s office represents both an administrative facility and part of the council’s broader effort to invest internally generated resources in public infrastructure.
