By Ayodele Oni
The minister of works and housing, Babatunde Fashola has revealed that persistent pressure by minister of state for transportation, Ademola Adegoroye on federal government led to the award of contract for dualization of Akure/Ado Ekiti Road.
Contract for the project was awarded at the cost of N90 billion and is expected to be completed in 24 months.
Speaking on Thursday at the flag off of the project in Akure, Fashola 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 four or eight years as a minister.
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.”
Adegoroye was appointed less than 10 months ago by President Muhammadu Buhari on the recommendation of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
On the delay in awarding the contract, the minister explained that when the issue of the road came up, some people suggested that the road be rehabilitated and re ashphalted, but I said it would be dualized
“It took this long because we have to do the redesigning of the road and other necessary documentation.”
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 apologized to the people of Ondo and Ekiti states for the delay in reconstructing the road, assuring that every necessary payment had been made to the contractor handling it in order to complete it within 24 months.
Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye said he fulfilled that he achieved his vision of seeing to the reconstruction of Akure-Ado Ekiti road for economic prosperity of the two states.
“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.”
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.
