Ekiti to spend N11b on 13 roads

THE Ekiti State government has awardedN11.5 billioncontracts for the construction of13 roadsspanning 187.87 kilometers.Governor Kayode Fayemi, who flagged-off five of the road projects in Ado-Ekiti at the end of his tour of the 16 local government areas, gave thecontractorsbetween six and 12 months to complete the jobs.The contractdocuments made available to newsmen showed that the projects includethe conversion ofthe Old Garage-Ojumose Road to a dual carriagewayat N866.7 million and Atikankan-Post Office-First Baptist Church Road atN891.8 million.Others arethe Ojumose-Basiri-Police Headquarters-Iyin Road, atN1.55 million;Fajuyi-University Teaching Hospital Road, atN447.54 million; and Ijigbo-Baptist College-Ilawe Road, atN788 million.They also includethe Igede-Awo-Ido Road, atN995.7 million; Ikere-Igbaraodo Road, atN495 million; Ikogosi-Ipole-Iloro-Efon Alaaye Road, atN877 million; Ijan-Ise road, atN702 million; and Ijero-Ipoti-Ayetoro Road, atN888 million.The rest are the Ilawe-Igbara Odo-Ibuji Road, atN894.7 million; Ikole-Ijesa-Isu-Iluomoba Road, at N1.139 billion; and Oye-Ikun-Otun Road, atN1.003 billion.Fayemi, who met with the contractors later,reminded them ofgovernment's zero tolerance for shoddy jobs, and warned them against entering into any deal with government officials, a development which hesaid had accounted for poorly executed contracts in the past.Hesaidthe bulk of the money for the road projects would come from the N20 billion bond being sourced from the Capital Market and the money allocated forurban renewal project in the state budget.The governorassured the contractors of prompt payment for the jobs, butwarned againstembarking on unnecessary holidays once money had been paid.Hetold newsmen later thatthe state was entering a new phase of ``see and feel,''adding that having put in place necessary policy framework and legislative backing, Ekiti wasbound to witness a more rapid development in the area of infrastructure development inthe next 12 months.``The next 12 months arecrucial. It is a period of see and feel. Our people will feel the impact ofgovernment like they have never felt before, especially in the area of infrastructure development. We have laid the necessary foundation for a proper take-off and nothing will stop us.''Fayemi saidthe massive construction work that wouldcommence in the state from Decemberwould translate to employment opportunities and economic advantage for the people of the state.He said12 road projects that were terminated by his administrationlast month would be re-awarded very soon.
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