Osun ‘did’ several federal roads but yet to be reimbursed – Adeleke

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has asserted that his administration has undertaken significant work on federal roads within the state, despite not yet receiving reimbursement from the federal government. Speaking on Tuesday during an Arise TV town hall in Osogbo, Adeleke addressed concerns about the poor condition of a road leading into Ile-Ife. He clarified that this particular road falls under federal jurisdiction and therefore should not be a basis for evaluating his administration's performance.

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Do you know I’ve done many federal roads and I’ve not been paid? I have done about seven federal roads, up till now I’ve not been paid.

"Do you know I’ve done many federal roads and I’ve not been paid? I have done about seven federal roads, up till now I’ve not been paid," Adeleke stated. He later revised the number to "about nine" federal roads completed without payment. The governor mentioned he had personally raised the issue with the Minister of Works, who reportedly promised to investigate.

Under Nigeria's federal road intervention policy, state governments are eligible for reimbursement for rehabilitating or constructing federal roads, provided they follow the necessary approval and verification procedures. Adeleke's remarks came after a civil society representative highlighted the poor state of the Ile-Ife road. The governor firmly rejected the attempt to link this federal road to his administration's track record, insisting the focus should be on state-maintained routes.

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I’ve done nine federal roads, up till now they’ve not been paid for [by the federal government]. I’ve talked to the minister, I’ve gone to visit him. I told him I’ve done these federal roads and he said ‘no problem, I will look into it.’

Beyond federal projects, Adeleke highlighted his administration's extensive road construction efforts within Osun, aiming to improve connectivity for farming communities. He claimed the state had constructed approximately 350 kilometers of roads, many of which had been neglected for decades prior to his government's intervention.

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No, no, no. That’s not fair. That’s [a] federal road. Talk about Osun.