A comment by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to President Bola Tinubu, has stirred reactions on social media after he suggested extreme measures against vandals allegedly sabotaging the Ibadan–Ilesa/Ife federal highway project.
Onanuga was reacting to a post by an X (formerly Twitter) user who accused vandals of cutting and carting away starter bars and shoulder rods from the ongoing reconstruction of the highway. The post claimed that the actions were undermining the quality and pace of work on the project.
In his response, Onanuga expressed outrage over the alleged vandalism and hinted at harsh punitive measures as a deterrent, a remark that quickly attracted attention and triggered mixed reactions online. While some users supported a tough stance against infrastructure sabotage, others criticised the tone of the comment, arguing that it appeared excessive and inappropriate for a senior presidential aide.
The Ibadan–Ilesa/Ife highway, which links Oyo and Osun states, is a major federal corridor and a critical economic route connecting parts of the South-West. It is currently undergoing reconstruction as part of the Federal Government’s broader road rehabilitation and infrastructure renewal programme.
The project is seen as vital to improving road safety, reducing travel time, and boosting commercial activities between the two states. However, repeated cases of vandalism and theft of construction materials have posed challenges to contractors and raised concerns about increased costs and project delays.
As debate continues online, some commentators have called for strengthened security around federal infrastructure projects and stricter enforcement of existing laws, rather than inflammatory rhetoric, to address vandalism and protect public assets.
