Ondo/Akure Highway: Strong  Doubts Over Contractor’s Expertise

By Ayodele Oni

Residents of Ondo/Ekiti States have continued to put pressure on the Federal Government over the deplorable condition of Ado Ekiti/Akure highway.

Just as the Minister of State for transportation, Ademola Adegoroye promised to facilitate mobilization of contractor back to the road, a public affairs analyst, advised that the Minister should also ensure that competent firm handles the project.

Mr Ayodele Fagbohun, in a letter to the Minister, states that “As honourable minister, you must take the bull by the horns and critically look into the activities of Dantata and Sawoe firm that is handling the N22 billion Akure/Ado Ekiti dualisation project now criminally abandoned for over three years running.”

Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum, (NGF) Kayode Fayemi, had explained that Ondo and Ekiti states earlier approached African Development Bank, (ADB) to fund rehabilitation of the highway, but frustrated by the Federal Government .

Fayemi said the road was awarded to the contractor, but the federal government refused to release fund to the contracting firm.

Fagbohun said in his letter that “The poor, appalling and worsening condition of the route as a critical artery that links both Ondo/Ekiti states to other parts of the country and Abuja FCT continues and exert strains and stress on the people, in terms of eking out means of livelihood, goods and services.

“There was a glimmer of hope which fired the expectation and aspirations of the people, as Dantata and Sawoe Construction (Nigeria) Limited and Factorial Engineering, a firm of structural engineering, moved their men and materials to site, thinking on the stretch of imagination that work would commence in earnest.

“That was a very long time ago. To the disgust of the people and bewildered nation, work stopped abruptly, leaving the people agape and aghast.

“The people are very disenchanted and have lost faith in this administration on the slipshod and carefree attitude towards the execution of the project.

“They raise grouse on the unsavoury development of how the welfare and material well being of the articulate people in the South West can be brazenly violated, trampled upon, mortgaged and shortchanged with reckless abandon.

“I have no other choice than to say with all emphasis that it is preposterous and foolhardy for Dantata and Sawoe Group to take our people in Ondo/Ekiti states of South West for a jolly ride, thinking erroneously that they would just come around and defecate on us with impunity.

“By stealth, the neo-colonialist fascists and at best their commissioned agents in our midst, cashing in on Yoruba’s innate knack for hospitality and generosity and out of mischief, clandestinely work in concert to strangulate and impoverish the socio-economic life of our people.

“They now constitute an army of occupation to pillage our economic fortress and engage immorally in reconnoitering (spying) the land in terms of contract awards and dubious missions to overrun and violate the territorial integrity of South West with impunity.

“As far as road construction is concerned, the defunct Western Nigeria, now christened South West, is not a novice.  We have had the Israeli based construction firm, or Julius Berger firm, whose performance and work ethics are well rated as of best practices.

“In addition, we can source for local construction firms whose integrity can be vouched for, based on our cordial relationship and communal fraternity.

“Unlike the so called Dantata and Sawoe whose men and equipment can easily vanish or disappear into the thin air at the slightest provocation.

“To be brutally frank and honest with ourselves, Dantata and Sawoe are not genuine stakeholders nor should they be held accountable to any of South West’s projects.

“However if in the affirmatives, why the slipshod, lukewarm attitude and downright bestiality in handling the all important federal Akure/Ado-Ekiti dualization motor way project?

“I respectfully urge the Minister to deploy political ingenuity and network of connection as a grassroots politician to do the needful and ensure that the dilapidated, decrepit road is fixed within a short time frame.

“The dry season will soon set in to facilitate early re-construction of the road to bolster the economy of the South West in all its ramifications.

“Ondo/Ekiti States will also heave a sigh of relief if work actually commences in earnest to save or curtail to the barest minimum the present agony, anxiety, dangers of insecurity and its accompanied crimes in bad and ill maintained roads across the country.”