What started as breaking news on Tuesday quickly became the dominant conversation across many communities in Ikorodu Division as residents, community leaders and public office holders welcomed the Federal Government’s approval of the ₦15.7 billion Pacific – Igbe Laara Road project with excitement and optimism.

Across Ijede and Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Areas – the major beneficiaries of the project – the mood was one of relief and expectation, as many described the approval by the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, as a defining moment in the developmental history of the riverine axis.

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While the road is expected to directly transform dozens of communities within the two council areas, many residents believe its impact will extend far beyond them by improving traffic circulation, opening alternative routes and strengthening economic activities across the entire Ikorodu Division.

One of the earliest reactions came from the Emeritus Chairman of the Community Development Committee (CDC), Ijede LCDA, Mr. Rotimi Ayoku-Owolawi, who said he woke up overwhelmed with emotion upon hearing the news.

“I was in tears of joy waking up to read about the approval of the Pacific – Igbe Laara Road,” he remarked, describing the project as one that would unlock development across more than 150 Community Development Associations in Ijede and Igbogbo/Baiyeku Local Council Development Areas while improving connectivity with other parts of Ikorodu Federal Constituency.

He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving what he described as a transformational infrastructure project and also praised the sustained advocacy of the Member representing Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Rep. Babajimi Benson, whose consistent engagement, he noted, has continued to attract critical federal projects to the constituency.

Also reacting to the approval, the Director-General of the iCare Foundation and Executive Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on LASPA, Mayor Deen Sanwoola, described the development as another clear demonstration of the productive synergy between President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Rep. Babajimi Benson’s relentless commitment to attracting meaningful federal projects to Ikorodu Federal Constituency.

He noted that the Pacific – Igbe Laara Road would not only improve transportation but also unlock enormous economic opportunities for residents, businesses and investors across the rapidly expanding corridor.

He called on residents across Ikorodu Federal Constituency to remember the President’s commitment to their welfare when Nigerians return to the polls in January 2027, stressing that the approval of the ₦15.7 billion Pacific-Igbe Laara Road is not merely a government announcement but a life-changing investment that will benefit generations.

He urged the people to repay such commitment with massive support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and leaders who have continued to champion the development of Ikorodu.

The excitement was equally shared by the Member representing Ikorodu Constituency II in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. (Dr.) Aro Moshood Abiodun, who described the approval as another shining example of purposeful representation translating into tangible development for the people.

According to the lawmaker, the Pacific – Igbe Laara Road is far more than a transportation project. He noted that the road will improve connectivity between communities, stimulate commerce, ease the movement of people and goods, strengthen security, encourage investment and significantly improve the quality of life of residents across the benefiting axis.

Hon. Aro expressed profound appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the project under the Renewed Hope Agenda, noting that the intervention demonstrates the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering strategic infrastructure capable of driving inclusive economic growth.

He also applauded Rep. Babajimi Benson for what he described as consistent and effective representation that continues to attract meaningful federal presence to Ikorodu Federal Constituency.

For many residents, the approval further reinforces a growing confidence that sustained engagement between the Federal Government and committed legislative representation can produce visible and lasting results for local communities.

Community stakeholders observed that, upon completion, the Pacific – Igbe Laara Road will substantially reduce travel time, improve access to schools and healthcare facilities, facilitate agricultural and commercial activities, increase property values and create fresh opportunities for businesses operating within the fast-growing corridor.

The project is also expected to benefit traders, artisans, transport operators, students, farmers and thousands of commuters who rely daily on the axis, while providing an alternative route capable of easing traffic pressure on existing road networks within Ikorodu Division.

As residents continue to celebrate the announcement, expectations are now shifting towards the commencement of construction, with many expressing confidence that the landmark project will become one of the most impactful federal infrastructure investments in Ikorodu’s recent history.

For the people of Ijede, Igbogbo/Baiyeku and indeed the wider Ikorodu Division, the approval represents more than the construction of another road.

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It is a renewed promise of connectivity, economic opportunity and sustained development – one that many believe reflects the combined impact of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Rep. Babajimi Benson’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that Ikorodu remains firmly on the map of national development.