Road
By Ella Anokam
Ilorin, May 12, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government has summoned the contractor handling the Ajase-Ipo-Offa road construction in Ilorin, Kwara, on how to resolve the challenges preventing the completion of the contract.
Minister of State II for Power Works and Housing Suleiman Zarma summoned the contractor during an inspection of the ongoing road rehabilitation and construction in Ilorin.
Zarma and some ministry’s officials were on an assessment tour of the Federal Government’s road and housing projects in the North-Central.
The officials observed that the road contractor, Preconsmith Construction Ltd., after being mobilised by the ministry, did some works before it stopped.
According to them, this development has put the road in a terrible condition, making it inaccessible than it was before the contract was awarded.
But Mr Kingsley Nwaonicha, the Project Manager of the company, explained that the delay in sorting issues concerning the electrical high tension obstructing the road construction and removal of some structures affected the pace of construction.
He appealed to the minister to use his office and resolve the issue since effort made by the company proved abortive.
The explanation notwithstanding, the minister said he was worried by the deplorable state of the road and invited the contractor and concerned stakeholders to Abuja to resolve the matter.
An indigene of the state, Mr Tope Ade, decried the poor state of the road, observing that the deplorable condition of the road had affected economic activities in the area.
The minister also inspected the Afon-Oboto — Oyo State boundary road — about 28.3 kilometre with 11 per cent completion.
Mr Dele Ogunde, the representative of the company stated that project started in 2017 and would be completed in 2018.
He also noted that the terrain of the road proved difficult for the company, saying that the former road was demolished because of drain and its bad condition.
“The road is strategic because of its boundary with Oyo State and there are many farmlands; when completed, farmers will have the opportunity to move their farm produce to south-west, north-west and north-central,’’ he said.
Zarma also inspected the Ilorin -Omuaran- Kabba road project that was awarded in contract since 2013 but the construction of it began 2017.
During a courtesy visit to Gov. Abdulfatai Ahmed of Kwara, the governor expressed satisfaction over the Federal Government’s project in the state.
He appealed for timely rehabilitation of many roads that were in bad conditions in the state, especially the Ajase-Ipo-Offa road.
“As an agrarian state, I urge the Federal Government to hasten the construction and rehabilitation of the roads to ease transportation of goods and services.
“By the time most of these roads are done, we will engage ourselves in constructing feeder roads that allowed movement of farm produces to complement it for improved economy,’’ he said.(NAN)
ELLA/KAY
Edited by Kayode Olaitan