By Jide Adebayo
President Bola Tinubu has approved the inclusion of the Itawure–Aramoko–Ado Ekiti and Aramoko–Ijero–Ifaki Ekiti roads in the proposed 2026 Federal Government budget.
A statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti State Governor, Yinka Oyebode, confirmed that a formal communication has been sent from the Office of the President to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, with Governor Biodun Oyebanji duly copied.
According to the statement, the approval followed a meeting between Governor Oyebanji and Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele with President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on November 9, 2025, where they discussed the poor state of federal roads in the state.
“There has been some public outcry and deliberate misinformation over the deplorable condition of some federal roads in the state, particularly the Itawure–Aramoko–Ado road,” Oyebode stated.
He explained that the Tinubu administration had already awarded three major federal road projects in Ekiti and mobilised contractors to site, while the Oyebanji government had completed the reconstruction of the Ado–Iworoko–Ifaki road alongside several other inter- and intra-city projects across the state.
Oyebode said the inclusion of the two new road projects in the 2026 budget would ease travel, improve regional connectivity, and enhance economic activity in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Governor Oyebanji’s Shared Prosperity vision.
“Governor Oyebanji, on behalf of Ekiti people, is thankful to President Tinubu for his strategic intervention in the socioeconomic and infrastructural development of the state, as well as other forms of support the President has provided,” the statement added.
The government reiterated its commitment to improving the welfare of Ekiti residents through sustained collaboration with the Federal Government, the private sector, and development partners.
Meanwhile, the Regent of Aramoko-Ekiti, Princess Sherifat Owolabi, recently appealed to Governor Oyebanji to prioritise road rehabilitation in the town, warning that the deteriorating condition of local roads was hampering commerce and discouraging investors.
Speaking with journalists in Aramoko, headquarters of Ekiti West Local Government Area, Princess Owolabi stressed that improved road networks would not only enhance mobility but also boost trade and attract new investments.
“Good roads do not just beautify a town; they open it up for development and investment. We are appealing to Governor Oyebanji to come to our aid and fix the roads. The government has been supportive in other areas, but we need more intervention to revive our economy,” she said.
She encouraged residents and Ekiti indigenes in the diaspora to invest in local housing and businesses, adding that Aramoko’s peaceful atmosphere made it ripe for development.
“Aramoko is peaceful. We need our people to come home and invest. If major transport companies begin to ply this route, it will greatly boost our local economy. The government should have mercy on us,” she added.
