Vice President Kashim Shettima on Monday commissioned the Onyearugbulem–Shagari/Irese Road Flyover and Junction Improvement Project in Akure, Ondo State, describing it as a strategic infrastructure investment expected to ease long-standing traffic congestion and stimulate commercial and industrial activities along the axis.
The Vice President, who performed the inauguration along the Ilesha–Akure–Owo Expressway, said the project would improve traffic flow, enhance road safety, and open up the corridor for broader economic expansion.
He commended the Ondo State Government for what he called a timely intervention at a critical transport node, stressing that modern infrastructure remains central to economic development and regional connectivity.
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, who hosted the event alongside Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, described the flyover as a landmark achievement, noting that it is the first of its kind in Akure, the state capital.
Aiyedatiwa said the project goes beyond physical infrastructure, adding that it was designed to resolve years of traffic gridlock, reduce accidents, and improve productivity within the city.
He recalled that the Onyearugbulem–Shagari axis and the Akure–Benin Expressway junction had, for years, remained a major flashpoint for accidents, traffic bottlenecks, and economic disruption due to persistent congestion.
The governor explained that the project was initiated under the late former governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, and sustained by his administration in line with continuity of governance.
He announced that the flyover has been named after the Afenifere leader and elder statesman, Pa Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti, who turned 100 on Monday. Reuben Famuyide Fasoranti
According to him, the decision was a tribute to Fasoranti’s contributions to Yoruba leadership and national development, as well as a symbolic honour on his centenary celebration.
Aiyedatiwa also said his administration has intensified road infrastructure renewal across the state in the past year, with several projects either completed or ongoing across the three senatorial districts.
He listed key projects to include the dualisation of the Akure–Idanre Road, Akungba–Ikare Road, Okitipupa–Igbokoda Road, and College Road in Igbokoda, alongside the rehabilitation of over 100 kilometres of roads including Akure–Ijare, Akure–Imafon, Aiyegunle–Oka, and Igbotako roads.
The governor added that many of the projects had already been completed and commissioned, while others were at advanced stages.
He said the newly inaugurated flyover had already begun easing traffic flow and reducing travel time along the busy corridor, describing it as one of the flagship projects of his administration.
Aiyedatiwa also commended engineers, contractors, consultants, and indigenous workers involved in the project, noting that it was delivered largely by local professionals.
He thanked residents of Akure for their patience during the construction period, assuring that the infrastructure would serve generations to come.
Traditional rulers, members of the state executive council, security chiefs, and other dignitaries attended the ceremony, which drew large crowds to the capital city.
The Afenifere socio-political group is led by Afenifere.
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