The Ogun State Government has officially reaffirmed its commitment to addressing the deteriorating road infrastructure in Ota, following a peaceful protest organized by the Nigerian Bar Association's Ota branch.
Government Meeting Addresses NBA Concerns
This commitment was made during a crucial meeting convened by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), on November 25, 2025. The meeting specifically addressed the concerns that prompted the October 25, 2025 protest led by the Ota NBA Chairperson, Kelubia K Ajose.
The high-level delegation included the State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Olusegun Olaotan; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Kayode Akinmade; Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Works, Dr Oladimeji Yusuf, alongside other key government aides.
Substantial Road Rehabilitation Achievements Cited
According to Commissioner Ogungbade, the Dapo Abiodun-led administration has demonstrated serious commitment to enhancing road infrastructure across the state. He revealed that since its inauguration, the administration has constructed or rehabilitated over 1,500 kilometres of roads throughout Ogun State, with the first significant project notably occurring in Ota.
The government officials, however, cautioned the legal professionals to remain vigilant against what they described as dishonest political actors and controversy merchants who have been mobilized to tarnish the governor's reputation and the government's image.
NBA Explains Protest Motivation
The NBA delegation clarified that their protest action stemmed from pent-up frustration among the entire Ota populace, not merely legal practitioners. They emphasized that the peaceful demonstration aimed to draw government attention to the deplorable condition of roads in the area, noting that residents typically don't distinguish between state and federal roads when experiencing transportation difficulties.
The branch assured the government that the protest was independently organized by NBA members, and they had remained conscious throughout the process to prevent external elements from hijacking their initiative.
Significant Progress in HIV/AIDS Response
In a related development, the state government announced remarkable achievements in its efforts to reduce HIV and AIDS prevalence. Commissioner for Health, Dr Tomi Coker, disclosed this progress during her keynote address marking the 2025 World AIDS Day celebration themed "Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response" at the Olusegun Osoba Press Centre in Abeokuta.
Dr Coker revealed that over 30,000 people are currently receiving free anti-retroviral therapy across state health facilities. The commissioner further noted that HIV testing and counselling services have been expanded to all 20 local government areas to make healthcare more accessible to residents.
The state has achieved an impressive 96 percent rate of people knowing their HIV status among those tested. Additionally, significant expansion of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme has resulted in more mothers giving birth to HIV-free children, marking substantial progress in the state's healthcare delivery system.
