The Gateway Road: Touring Through Ilara-Ijoun
Ogun State is tagged ‘The Gateway State’ for its strategic geo-location bordering the Republic of Benin.
The nearest of communities that serve as the actual international gateway in the state are the border towns of Ilara-Yewa to places like Idiroko in Ogun West senatorial district.
The geographic location of these border towns in Ogun make them the face, the window and places of first contact with the State and with Nigeria when visiting from neighbouring country, hence mirroring the state’s and country’s infrastructural outlook.
Touring through Ilara-Ijoun road, these pictures speak of the current condition painting the ‘beauty’ of the Gateway State at the very first sight.
This road particularly networks to the rest of Ogun State through Ibese, Ilaro, Sagamu through Papa/Ifo and to Lagos through Sango/Ota.
Apart from the reputational significance of this road, its connection to other towns and cities in Ogun and Lagos marks it a critical asset for intra-state and inter-state trading, especially considering the volume of agricultural produce and essential goods coming out of this axis.
Abeokuta- Sagamu Road in Contrast
As Governor Dapo Abiodun settles in for the second term after a hard-fought legal battle challenging his electoral victory, the State Government in its rural-urban levelling programme may consider the reputational and economic significance of Ilara-Ijoun road to the Gateway State while weighing alternatives on the road projects most urgent and most deplorable.
