Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi has flagged off the construction of Ikere-Ondo State boundary dualization project aimed at ameliorating the plight of commuters who ply the Ado-Akure road.
Flagging off construction work on the deplorable road which has been abandoned by the Federal Government on Tuesday, the Governor said the dualization project is in demonstration of the commitment of his administration to nfrastructure development as enshrined in the 8- point agenda.
Governor Fayemi who stated that the project is in fulfilment of his promise to the people of Ikere- Ekiti who have yearned for the dualization of the road, said his government desires to dualise all the major roads leading to the State, even as the engineering designs of Ado-Ijan and Ado-Iyin-Igede roads have been prepared.
He added that government is currently reconstructing Ado-Ikere dualized road which became worn out a few months after it was constructed in 2006.
While stating that dualization projects are capital intensive, the Governor explained that his government has opted for a contractor-financing method to execute the project, stressing that a few other ongoing road projects are also contractor-financed.
“By the virtue of the high cot of the project, coupled with competing priorities for limited resources, Government has opted for a contractor-financing method to execute the project. This is a novel method in the provision of critical infrastructure. Three of our other ongoing road projects are also contractor-financed. This pragmatic approach is being practised in some States of the Federation under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) framework”, Fayemi said.
He expressed optimism that the dualization project which is expected to be completed within 14 months will boost the socio-economic status of the residents of Ikere as well as beautify the ancient town.
The construction work is to begin from the Ondo State border in order to allow government adequate time to conclude all compensation claims before construction works advance to Ikere township.
Last modified: May 14, 2014
