Residents of Are‑Ekiti in the Irepodun/Ifelodun area of Ekiti State have appealed to Governor Biodun Oyebanji to accelerate the rehabilitation and reconstruction of key roads that link their community with neighbouring towns, most notably the Are‑Iworoko‑Afao‑Igbemo road. The appeal was made ahead of the scheduled Are‑Ekiti Day celebration on Saturday, 21 November 2026.
The request was voiced at a press conference organised by the Are‑Ekiti Progressives Union (APU), whose president, Professor Michael Oke, also serves as Deputy Vice‑Chancellor of Ekiti State University, Ado‑Ekiti. While acknowledging the development efforts of the Oyebanji administration, Oke said further government action is needed to address the “deplorable condition” of several major access roads in the area.
“We appreciate His Excellency, Governor Biodun Oyebanji, for the development projects going on in our area, particularly the road linking Iworoko through Are to Afao and Igbemo, as well as the Are‑Oye road currently under construction,” Oke said. “However, we still have some important roads that require urgent government attention. The Are‑Iworoko‑Afao‑Igbemo road is in a very bad condition, and we want the governor to assist us in rehabilitating or, preferably, reconstructing it.”
Oke highlighted that the Are‑Iworoko‑Afao‑Igbemo road is a major artery connecting several communities and that its proper reconstruction would ease movement, stimulate economic activity and complement other infrastructure projects, including the ongoing Are‑Oye‑Ekiti road works.
In addition to the infrastructure plea, the Are‑Ekiti Day celebration will showcase cultural displays, traditional performances and other activities intended to project the community’s identity, history and values. The event will also mark the launch of a proposed N500 million resource centre, described by Oke as a lasting institutional and intellectual asset for present and future generations of Are‑Ekiti indigenes.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
