Residents of Obe-Nla community in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for constructing a one-kilometre concrete walkway to replace decades-old wooden bridges that had exposed residents to accidents and hardship.

Speaking on behalf of the community, Mr. Aladetan Adegbayi described the project as the first of its kind in Obe-Nla, saying it has ended years of hardship associated with the deteriorating wooden walkways.

He said the old structures had become unsafe, resulting in frequent accidents and making movement difficult for schoolchildren, traders, the elderly and other road users.

According to him, the new concrete walkway has improved safety, enhanced mobility and is expected to stimulate economic and social activities in the community.

Adegbayi thanked Governor Aiyedatiwa and the Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (OSOPADEC) for addressing the community’s long-standing infrastructure needs, describing the project as a lasting legacy for future generations.

Speaking at the flag-off of a three-kilometre jetty walkway project and the inauguration of a potable water scheme in the community, Aiyedatiwa said the projects reflect his administration’s commitment to improving the quality of life in the riverine communities.

He noted that residents had relied on fragile wooden walkways across swampy terrain for years, making movement difficult and hazardous.

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Describing the concrete walkway as ‘a corridor of hope and a pathway to dignity’, the governor said it will improve safety, facilitate movement and support economic growth in the area.

Aiyedatiwa also announced plans to embark on land reclamation projects in the state’s coastal communities to create more habitable land for residents.

“We are going to give land to our people through reclamation in the days ahead. This will not be the end,” he said.

The governor assured residents of continued collaboration with the Federal Government, development partners and private organisations to address the challenges of coastal erosion and sea incursion affecting Ayetoro and other shoreline communities.

Earlier, chairman of OSOPADEC, Prince Biyi Poroye, said the projects were practical interventions aimed at improving the socio-economic wellbeing of people in the commission’s mandate areas.

He disclosed that the commission will leverage the 2026 Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) in Türkiye to seek international support for climate resilience initiatives in the coastal communities.

The Project Manager of the Technical Unit, Ajayi Abidemi, said the one-kilometre concrete walkway was constructed with deep casing piles and designed to last for more than 100 years, in line with engineering standards.