The Ogun State government has dismissed as false and misleading reports that it halted work on the Paddy-Arikawe Oye–Igbimo road project to settle political scores with the project’s facilitator.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the government explained that the contractor, Minim and Tonye Nigeria Limited, was only directed to seek formal approval from the state before continuing with the project, as the road in question is a state-owned road.

The statement noted that upon discovering the contractor on site, the government asked for a formal application detailing the scope of work, which would allow the state to take the road off its own repair schedule.

It further challenged the authors of the report to show anything improper in the letter signed by the Ministry of Works’ Permanent Secretary, Engr. Dr. L.O. Yusuf, directing the contractor to suspend work pending necessary clearance.

“No one can carry out repair work on a road without obtaining the required approval,” the statement read. “In the same way, state governments seeking to repair federal roads must first obtain clearance from the Federal Government.”

The statement recalled that Ogun State was previously unable to intervene on federal roads such as the Abeokuta–Sango Ota highway until permission was granted by the Federal Ministry of Works under former Minister Babatunde Fashola, SAN.

It described as “outright mischief” the claim that the project was stopped due to political hostility. “How can anyone equate the demand for necessary approval before working on a state road to political victimization?” it queried.

Citing precedent, the government disclosed that in a letter dated February 1, 2025, former federal lawmaker Hon. Adewunmi Onanuga had duly sought approval to commence work on four rural roads in the state, including Sokanmade Road, Ewuga; Oko and Ada Road, Simawa; Itamaro–Ilara Road; and Alhaja Ogunsanya Street, Irolu.

“This is the proper procedure,” the statement concluded, urging Nigerians to disregard what it described as deliberate misinformation.