By: Lauretta Fagbohun, Abeokuta.

The Ogun State House of Assembly, through its Committee on Finance and Appropriations, chaired by Hon. Musefiu Lamidi, has directed the State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) to immediately tackle the indiscriminate parking of vehicles under the Kuto Flyover in Abeokuta and strictly enforce traffic regulations to restore order and enhance safety around the Kuto Roundabout.

The directive was issued during the ongoing 2026 budget defence session for Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), while the Committee engaged the Ministry of Transportation at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Hon. Lamidi attributed the persistent traffic gridlock in the area to several factors, including driving against traffic, indiscriminate parking, and the uncontrolled loading and offloading of passengers by commercial vehicles.

The Committee further charged the Ministry of Transportation to ensure that the development of the Gateway Airport aligns with the state’s broader economic agenda, stressing the need for the project to boost investment, improve connectivity, and enhance revenue generation.
While defending the Ministry’s 2026 budget proposals, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Olugbenga Dairo, disclosed that beyond the existing partnership with ValueJet Airline, the state was planning to establish a state-owned airline. He also revealed plans to commence cargo flight operations and establish an aircraft maintenance and repair facility at the Gateway Airport from the next fiscal year.

Other agencies under the Ministry that appeared before the Committee to defend their budget proposals included TRACE, led by its Acting Commander, Mr. Elias Omonayajo; the Gateway Airport, headed by Mr. Dapo Olumide; and the Vehicle Inspection Office, led by Mr. Ademeyin Olugboyega.

Additionally, other MDAs that presented their 2026 budget proposals before the Committee were the Ministry of Community Development and Cooperatives, led by its Commissioner, Mr. Ademola Balogun; the Ministry of Rural Development, headed by Mrs. Olufemi Ilori-Oduntan; the Ogun State House of Assembly, represented by the Clerk and Head of Legislative Service, Mr. Sakiru Adebakin; the Assembly Service Commission, chaired by Rt. Hon. Suraj Adekunbi; as well as the Auditor-General for the State, Mr. Akorede Lateef Balogun, and his Local Government counterpart.