Reconnecting a Neglected People: OSOPADEC’s Igbotu Road Project Rekindles Hope for Apoi Communities
After decades of infrastructure neglect, the long-sidelined Apoi communities may finally be reconnected—not just by roads, but by a renewed sense of inclusion. On his recent inspection of the Igbotu Township Road construction, OSOPADEC Chairman Prince Biyi Poroye made a quiet but powerful statement: “What is important to the Apoi people is the connection of the road.”
That “connection” speaks to more than just kilometers of asphalt.
For years, Igbotu and surrounding Apoi towns have watched development projects leapfrog over them, even when they were central to the region’s original transport plans. The Igbotu-Sabomi-Ode-Irele stretch—once the principal route through this part of Ondo State—was bypassed in favor of a supposedly “cheaper” alternative route during a federal realignment. The communities paid the price in poor accessibility, stalled economies, and a deepening sense of marginalization.
Now, the new administration under Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa is trying to reverse that legacy. And for the people of Igbotu, the current road project is more than just construction—it is correction.
Dr. Olujimi Kufo, OSOPADEC’s Executive Director for Projects, emphasized that while the full scope of the Sabomi end isn’t yet covered in the commission’s current budget, there are discussions with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to potentially re-engage that section. Still, the symbolic significance of OSOPADEC’s intervention isn’t lost on the locals.
“You can’t develop a people if you leave them cut off,” said community youth leader Awoete Rotimi. “This road means movement, trade, healthcare access, even schooling. It’s about our future.”
Though just a kilometer in length, the Igbotu road serves as a lifeline, linking not just Igbotu and Sabomi, but the broader Apoi, Akotogbo, Arogbo, and even Irele communities. In effect, it stitches together communities that have long felt forgotten.
This project also underscores the power of community advocacy and strategic budgeting. It was clear during the inspection that the voices of the people, especially local youth and traditional leaders, are beginning to be heard. And while infrastructural transformation across Niger Delta oil-producing communities is often mired in bureaucratic red tape and political back-and-forth, the Igbotu project suggests a shift toward responsive governance.
But questions remain: “Will this momentum be sustained? Will complementary projects like bridges and adjoining roads be completed in a timely manner? And will the NDDC follow through on its end?
For now, though, the people of Igbotu are choosing cautious optimism.
“The road is not just for vehicles. It’s for us to believe again,” said an elderly community member. “We’ve waited for years. If they finish this one, maybe we can hope again for the rest.”