By Lekan Adejuwon
Reprieve may have come for the many suffering users and commutters plying the long abandoned Ado Ekiti-Akure road as
Federal Government on Thursday flagged off the construction and dualization of the road which traverses Akure/Iju-Itagbolu/Ikere towns which has been in deplorable condition for almost 15years.
At the flagoff in Akure, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola disclosed that the construction work would cost ninety billion naira
The Works Minister who apologized to the people of Ondo and Ekiti states for the delay in reconstructing the road, said every necessary payment had been made to the contractor handling it in order to complete it within 24 months.
Fashola disclosed that the award and flag-off of the road took so long because of the necessary process required by the new procurement law.
The former governor of Lagos State assured that the financing of the project has been taken care of by NNPC and construction work would not stop till completion.
He commended the Minister of State (Transport), Ademola Adegoroye, for his unrelenting efforts in ensuring the road is awarded, saying he has done well, even more than those who spent 4years or 8years.
Adegoroye was appointed less than 10months ago by President Muhammadu Buhari on the recommendation of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
According to Fashola, “Barely under a year, I know how many memoranda he (Adegoroye) had presented. He chases me with telephone every day on this road.
“He told me he would not be able to return home (to Ondo State) after the expiration of tenure if the road is not awarded and reconstructed,” the Works Minister said.
Fashola noted that when the issue of the road came up, some people suggested that the road be rehabilitated and reashphalted, but I said it would be dualised
“It took this long because we have to do the redesigning of the road and other necessary documentation.”
In a remark, the Minister of State for Transportation, Prince Ademola Adegoroye said he is fulfilled that he achieved his vision of seeing to the reconstruction of Akure-Ado Ekiti road for economic prosperity of the two states.
The Minister said,
“Each week I go to his office and he briefed me every week with development./Akure/Ado road is so important to us. A lot of people live in Ado and work in Akure and vice versa.
“Our governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu sent me to Abuja. He asked me to do something about Akure/Ado road and get the Ondo Port Approval. I am fulfilled today that i have delivered,” Adegoroye said.
Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu represented by the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Lands and Housing, Engr Raimi Aminu and a message by Governor Biodun Oyebanji, expressed delight that the project when completed would reduce suffering of residents of the two state and boost economic activities between them.
The event was attended by traditional rulers from the two states including the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, the Deji of Akure, Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo as well as the Senator Ayo Akinyelure from Ondo Central
