One hundred days is not enough to judge the full impact of a new administration, but it certainly provides a glimpse into its priorities, capacity and direction. In Ondo State, Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa has, within this short period, signalled a firm commitment to infrastructural renewal, particularly in road construction.
His early days in office have been marked by the launch, execution and in some cases, completion of key road projects across the three senatorial districts of the state. For a state battling long-standing infrastructural decay, this early focus deserves acknowledgment.
However, the governor must now direct equal energy towards completing several inherited road projects that remain abandoned across the state.
The recent commissioning of the Stadium/Hospital Road in Ondo City, rehabilitation of Gbangbalogun Road in Akure and the ongoing dualisation of the Akure/Idanre Road stand out as notable achievements. Also commendable is the flag-off of the Igbokoda/Okitipupa dual carriageway and the Akungba/Ikare Road, both of which hold significant economic importance to the southern and northern zones respectively.
The administration’s OUR EASE initiative, which approved the rehabilitation of over 50 township roads across all 18 local government areas, suggests that the governor is thinking beyond the urban centres. These developments represent visible efforts at addressing public complaints about the state’s poor road network and show that governance, at least in the area of infrastructure, has picked up momentum.
The significance of these projects goes beyond aesthetics. Good roads reduce travel time, open up rural communities, promote economic activity and enhance access to healthcare and education. In places where roads have been neglected for years, this renewed attention to infrastructure is bound to positively impact residents’ quality of life. Governor Aiyedatiwa has also demonstrated the political will to implement projects rather than merely recycling old promises. For this, his government earns deserved commendation.
However, Starnews NG reports that a critical gap remains, the failure to complete key road projects initiated by the previous administration. The Ijoka Road in Akure, a major route connecting several densely populated communities, is still in a deplorable state. The Onyearugbulem Flyover, started under former Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, remains an incomplete and underutilised project. Several other roads across the state, once full of promise, are now symbols of interrupted governance. These abandoned projects not only waste taxpayers’ money but also erode public trust in government continuity and capacity.
The Aiyedatiwa administration must resist the temptation to focus solely on new projects while turning a blind eye to existing ones. Completing inherited projects is not only a moral obligation but also a smart administrative decision. It sends a strong message that governance is a continuum and that the interests of the people outweigh partisan or personal considerations. No legacy can be firmly built on a foundation of abandoned projects.
In addition to completing projects, Starnews NG urges the state government to adopt a more transparent approach in the execution of infrastructure contracts. Public infrastructure should not operate in opacity. Every awarded project must come with a disclosed cost, contractor name, start and end date and funding source. These details must not be hidden from the public.
When citizens are left in the dark about how public funds are being spent, suspicions thrive and confidence in governance diminishes. Transparency is a key ingredient in building trust and ensuring that government projects are not used as conduits for waste or corruption.
Likewise, the state’s financial health must be subject to regular public disclosure. Ondo people deserve to know how much the state receives monthly from the Federation Account and how much is generated internally. These figures should not be shrouded in secrecy. Public access to such data allows for better understanding of government capacity and encourages citizen participation in budgeting and project monitoring.
There is no overstating the value of transparency in a democracy. It strengthens accountability, fosters trust, and allows the public to engage meaningfully with governance. When a government shares accurate and timely information about its operations, it becomes harder for corruption to thrive. The Aiyedatiwa administration should embrace this ethos not as a favour to the people, but as a basic requirement of modern governance.
The governor’s first 100 days suggest a leader eager to make a mark. The achievements in road construction are visible, the intentions appear genuine and the approach so far has reflected a fair spread across the senatorial zones. But as with every administration, the challenge is not only in starting well, but in sustaining momentum and finishing strong. The people of Ondo State are more concerned about results than ceremonies. A completed road means more than a flagged-off one. A finished flyover matters more than a new contract signing.
Governor Aiyedatiwa has made a promising start, but he must remember that governance is not measured by intentions alone, it is judged by outcomes. The applause that greets these early efforts must not lead to complacency. Rather, it should serve as motivation to do more and to do better.
Starnews NG states that Aiyedatiwa must ensure that abandoned projects are completed, that transparency becomes the norm in public finance and infrastructure development and that the people continue to see dividends of democracy in their daily lives.
If he sustains this pace, keeps his focus and deepens transparency, Governor Aiyedatiwa may not only succeed in completing the roads he has started, but may well find his place among the few leaders whose performance redefined the direction of governance in Ondo State.
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