HISTORIC BREAKTHROUGH: FEC Approves Pacific Road Linking All Igbe Towns to Ikorodu

— As Federal Project Set to Connect with Lagos State’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu–Ginti Road Corridor



By  Bosupo Afolabi

In a landmark development that signals a new dawn for thousands of residents across the Igbe axis, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has officially approved the construction of the Pacific Road linking Igbe Laara to Ikorodu. The approval, announced by Minister of Works David Umahi following an FEC meeting in Abuja, is part of a sweeping federal infrastructure package comprising 27 road projects valued at over N3.9 trillion across 15 states.

For the people of Igbe—whose voices have long been among the most read and most heard in this community—this is the validation of years of patient struggle, advocacy, and unwavering hope.

A Road That Unites All Igbe Towns

The Pacific Road is no ordinary road project. It runs through the entire Igbe towns in both Ijede and Igbogbo Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), making it the first federal road infrastructure to directly serve the full Igbe corridor in generations. The project, which carries the official track reference ERGP12247885, will link Igbe Laara Bus Stop in Ijede LCDA to Igbogbo/Baiyeku.

More crucially, upon completion, the Pacific Road will connect seamlessly with the Igbogbo/Bola Tinubu/Igbe Laara/Gintin Road—a major arterial route being constructed by the Lagos State Government. This integration will create a continuous, unbroken transportation network binding together Ijede, Igbogbo, Igbe Laara, Afa, Oreyo, Ginti, and beyond.

The Man Who Made It Happen

The project was facilitated by Rep. Babajimi Benson (JB) , the representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency. Hon. Motunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba, Executive Chairman of Ijede LCDA, who lauded the federal lawmaker for the feat, captured the sentiment of the community: “Thank you, JB. JB promises, JB delivers!”

“I sincerely thank and commend my boss and leader, the distinguished representative of Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson (JB), for facilitating the approval and budgetary provision for the construction of the strategic Pacific Road,” Hon. Gbadebo-Alogba said.

Describing Benson as “a true man of the people and a leader whose words are bankable,” she added: “Whenever JB speaks, development follows. When JB moves, the people feel the impact directly.”

The council boss further noted that “this road project is another clear testament to his commitment to improving infrastructure, easing transportation challenges, and boosting commercial and social activities within Ijede, Igbe communities, and adjoining areas”. “The people are already looking forward to the commencement of the project.”

A Story of Struggle and Resilience

To fully appreciate the magnitude of this approval, one must understand the painful history that preceded it.

The Igbogbo–Bola Tinubu–Igbe Laara–Ginti road corridor was first flagged off in November 2017 during the administration of former Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, with a completion timeline of just two years. That road should have been fully completed by November 2019. Instead, eight years later, the project remains unfinished.

Massive demolition of buildings was carried out in Igbogbo to create the right of way. Yet many affected residents are yet to receive compensation. The contractor, HiTech Construction Limited, abandoned the site for years. Residents in over 100 communities along the corridor were left to bear the daily nightmare of impassable roads, crumbling economies, and broken promises.

Frustrated residents formed the ‘Ebute–Igbogbo–Bola Ahmed–Igbe Laara–Gintin Road Volunteer Group’, mobilising nearly 1,000 participants to pressure the government for action. Mr Adewale Oba Akinrotimi, one of the conveners, declared: “The construction of the road has witnessed very slow pace since flag off, and this has crumbled the economies of several communities and adjoining communities along this important corridor.”

Rep. Benson himself had earlier called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to complete the road, warning that the failure to finish the Igbogbo–Bola Tinubu–Igbe Laara road, along with Agric–Ishawo and Gberigbe Roads, was “overshadowing the developmental efforts of the government in Ikorodu”.

What This Means for Igbe Communities

For the people of Igbe—whether in Ijede, Igbogbo, Igbe Laara, Afa, or Ginti—the FEC approval represents a turning point in the struggle for basic infrastructure.

· Economic Revival: The road corridor, when completed, will restore commercial activities that have collapsed under years of abandonment.
· Transportation Relief: It will end the daily nightmare of navigating impassable stretches that have forced residents to endure untold hardship.
· Regional Integration: The Pacific Road will link all Igbe towns together and connect them to the broader Ikorodu Division—which comprises one Local Government and five LCDAs.
· Federal–State Synergy: By connecting with the Lagos State Government’s Bola Tinubu–Ginti Road, the project ensures that federal and state efforts complement each other rather than operate in isolation.

A Promise Delivered

As Hon. Gbadebo-Alogba rightly observed: “Indeed, JB remains a true man of the people and a leader whose words are bankable. JB is widely known for purposeful, people-oriented representation and visible grassroots development.”

For the millions of residents whose voices have echoed through these pages—whose stories of suffering and resilience have made Igbe News one of the most read platforms in the entire community—this approval is more than just a road project. It is proof that when a community speaks with one voice, and when it is represented by a leader who listens, development follows.

“All hail our Julius Berger. Thank you, JB!”

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

Jimi Benson