THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N95.8 billion for dualization of the Akure/Ita Ogbolu-Iju/Ado Ekiti road, linking Ekiti and Ondo states.
The Minister of State for Works and Housing Umar El-Yakub disclosed this after the FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday, March 29.
El-Yaqub revealed that the first section of the road project on the Ondo side was awarded to two construction companies at the cost of N46.6 billion, adding that the remaining N49.2 billion would be used for the second section of the project from the Ekiti State border.
”The Ministry of Works and Housing presented a memo for the consideration and approval of Council. This is for the award of contract for the dualization of the Akure/Ita Ogbolu–Iju/Ado Ekiti state border, on the Ondo State side in favour of Messrs Samchez Nigeria Limited and Messrs Horizon Construction Company Limited, in the sum of N46,684,481,745.44, with a completion period of 24 months.
”The section two of that road was awarded to Messrs Kopek Construction Limited at the cost of N49,295,088,593.98, with a completion period of 30 months.
”So, one is doing it from the Ekiti State border and the other one is on the Ondo State side. That’s the two sections of the contract was awarded.”
The ICIR gathered that the road has been the subject of discussions in the past years between the Federal Government and the two state governments.
A journalist, Marcus Fatunmole, who hails from Iju, Ondo State, explained to The ICIR that “The road has caused economic losses to both states”.
“Motorists abandon the Akure-Ado road for Igbara-Oke Ilawe – Ado, which makes them spend more time and consume more fuel. Transport fare has also doubled because of the challenge,” he added.
Fatunmole explained that former President Olusegun Obasanjo reconstructed the road in 2000, adding that the road was first constructed during the defunct Western Region government.
“The quick deterioration of the road between 2000 when Obasanjo’s government reconstructed it and 2021 when it became dilapidated shows how some of the 21st century contractors in Nigeria haphazardly do their work,” he said
Also, the Council approved N2.24 billion for the construction of a 150-room capacity female hostel at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria, Kaduna State, according to the Minister of Information and Culture Lai Mohammed.
He said: ”The Minister of Aviation presented a memo to Council seeking Council’s consideration and approval for the award of contract for the construction of a 150-room capacity female hostel, at the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology, Zaria.”
Mohammed noted that the contract was awarded to Messrs Best Homes Construction Limited, at the sum of N2.24 billion, inclusive of 7.5 per cent VAT.
According to him, the completion period for the hostel is 12 months.
The Council also approved N383.9 million for the procurement of 13 operational vehicles for the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M