L- R: Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi; Deputy Manager, Sanju Sunny Nig. Ltd/China Railway No. 3 Engineering, Liu Zuzhi; Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; and Commissioner for Works, Mr. Sola Adebayo, at the commissioning of Irele-Ponyan Road.
Activities marking the third anniversary of the Dr Kayode Fayemi administration in Ekiti State continued on Monday as the Governor commissioned three roads, five ambulances as well as some medical equipment and flagged off the reconstruction of three other roads in Ikole Local Government.
The three commissioned roads include 9km Irele-Ponyan, 23km Ikole-Ijesa Isu and 24km Igede -Awo-Ido roads which are parts of the 100 km of roads billed to be opened and made accessible to motorists while Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road, Awo-Eyio-Ifaki road and Ikole township roads were flagged off for reconstruction.
Commissioning the road projects, Dr Fayemi reiterated the resolve of his administration to make all parts of the state accessible by motorable roads and stated that government has continued to pursue the target in spite of daunting financial challenges.
He assured that his administration will not relent in its effort to deliver more dividends of democracy to the people in fulfilment of the social contract with the people.
The Governor explained that Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road had been on since 2008 but was abandoned by the contractor, while the present administration has decided to re-activate it so that the money expended on it would not be a waste and to alleviate the sufferings of commuters who ply the road.
Speaking on Irele-Ponyan road which is one of the projects inherited from the previous administration, the Governor said the road was “virtually abandoned due to poor funding and the contractor could not continue with the project because of unsettled interim certificates” before his administration came n board in 2010.
He added that the scarce resources of the State did not deter it from pursuing the construction of the border road as the administration decided to fund the project adequately in view of the strategic importance of the road which links Kogi State.
The Governor expressed optimism that the newly constructed virgin road would help business transaction with Kogi people to thrive.
Earlier, the Governor had commissioned 5 ambulances and some medical equipment for the use of Ijero, Ikole and Ekiti East local governments under the MDGs-CGS scheme.
The 3 local governments which are getting N200 million each as intervention fund aimed at fast-tracking the achievement of the MDGs through the implementation of health, education and general well being of the people, are pioneers of the scheme.
The Governor restated his commitment to banishing poverty from the state and intensifying efforts on programmes and projects that would improve the welfare of the grassroots.
He urged the People to imbibe the culture of maintenance of government property , saying that this is the only way the equipment could serve the benefitting communities for a long period of time.
Last modified: October 14, 2013