The Oyo State Government has assured residents and companies within the Oluyole Industrial Estate that the ongoing road reconstruction will not reduce the original width of the roads, dismissing circulating reports suggesting otherwise.
This clarification followed growing concerns among factory operators and residents who feared that the new construction layout might shrink sections of the road, potentially disrupting traffic flow and heavy-duty vehicle movement within the industrial cluster. Government officials described the claims as unfounded and misleading.
Officials of the Ministry of Public Works, Infrastructure, and Transport reaffirmed that the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration remains committed to delivering infrastructure strictly in line with approved engineering standards. They emphasised that the Oluyole axis, being home to some of the state’s largest manufacturers, cannot afford reduced road capacity.
A senior ministry official explained that the seemingly narrow width currently observed by road users is a temporary stage in the construction process. She noted that ongoing earthworks, drainage installation, and soil stabilisation often give the impression of a reduced corridor before the full width becomes visible.
During a visit to the ministry, a senior official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, reiterated that the road stretch from Mobil to Total Filling Station and down to Town Planning–Ring Road remains fully designed for reconstruction without any reduction in its original design width.
“I want to assure you that the Oyo State government does not compromise standards in its infrastructural drive. Oluyole is an industrial estate, and the road design reflects the realities of heavy-duty traffic,” she said. She added that industrial road construction takes into account traffic load, soil strength, pavement layers, drainage, and adequate width to ensure durability.
Industry stakeholders have welcomed the clarification, noting that maintaining the full road width is critical to efficient logistics operations and ease of doing business.
Meanwhile, an engineer, Mr Charles Adebiyi, noted that the engineering specification for the Oluyole Industrial Estate road must align with standard industrial-road parameters and the high volume of heavy vehicles, such as trailers, food-processing trucks, and petroleum tankers, that ply the route.
Findings by our correspondent indicate that the project involves rehabilitating and upgrading key access roads serving manufacturing plants, depots, processing factories, and logistics hubs within the estate. The design conforms to standards of the Oyo State Ministry of Works, AASHTO pavement guidelines, and local environmental requirements.
The Makinde administration reiterated its commitment to infrastructure development, urging residents and business operators to remain patient as the project progresses, noting that the completed road will improve mobility, reduce congestion, and enhance the business environment within the estate.
