Tinubu’s Flyover Warning Not Meant for Ondo, Says Aiyedatiwa

Aiyedatiwa said the project was driven by the need to address persistent traffic congestion along one of the busiest corridors in the Ondo State capital and should not be mistaken for a vanity project.

Speaking at Cathedral Junction in Akure during the flag-off of the project, the governor argued that the location of the proposed flyover justified the investment.

He said the corridor had suffered from traffic problems for years, making the project a practical response to an existing challenge rather than an attempt to embark on unnecessary infrastructure.

Aiyedatiwa also urged critics of the project to consider the full context of Tinubu’s remarks before concluding that the President had opposed the construction of flyovers generally.

“This is not the kind of location Mr President was referring to when he said governors should stop building flyovers,” the governor said.

According to him, Tinubu’s position was specifically about projects being constructed in places where they were not needed.

‘Don’t Quote the President Out of Context’

The governor maintained that the President had not issued a blanket ban on flyover projects across the country.

He explained that where traffic conditions and other factors make a flyover necessary, such infrastructure can still be justified.

Aiyedatiwa said the Oyemekun–Oba Adesida project falls clearly within that category because of the long-standing congestion experienced along the route.

“He said they should not erect them where they are unnecessary. So you must add the other side of his speech,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He added that the Akure project was “more than necessary,” insisting that his administration would proceed with it because of its expected impact on traffic movement and connectivity within the state capital.

Tinubu Had Warned Against Unnecessary Flyovers

President Tinubu had recently criticised state governments for prioritising flyover construction in locations where he believed such projects were not the most pressing infrastructure needs.

The President’s comments came amid discussions over increased allocations to states since the beginning of his administration and the need for governments to channel more resources into projects with direct benefits for their people.

Aiyedatiwa’s latest comments appear aimed at drawing a distinction between unnecessary flyovers and projects designed to tackle serious traffic problems.

For Ondo State, the governor believes the Oyemekun–Oba Adesida flyover is firmly in the latter category and will help ease one of Akure’s persistent traffic challenges once completed.

Why the Akure Project Matters

The 2.38-kilometre flyover is expected to improve traffic flow around the Oyemekun and Oba Adesida axis, an important part of Akure’s road network.

The state government has presented the project as a major intervention aimed at improving movement within the capital and reducing the pressure created by recurring congestion.

Aiyedatiwa therefore insists that the project should be judged by the problem it is intended to solve, rather than simply by the fact that it is a flyover.