Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has commenced laying of asphalt on 20km Ikole-Isaba-Ikoyi-Igbemo road.
The State Project Coordinator, Hon. Sunday Adunmo said the asphalt overlay confirmed the commitment of the Gov. Biodun Oyebanji-led administration to providing durable road infrastructure that will aid food production in the State.
Adunmo, noted that the road would boost food production, adding that asphalting of Ikole-Isaba-Ikoyi-Igbemo road is a major breakthrough which signalled that RAAMP road projects in the State would be a huge success.
The Coordinator disclosed that asphalting would commence in April on 3.40km FMS Farm-Oke Ako road, 2.05 km Ara-Ekameta road, 8.7km Are-Oye road while other roads including 8.4km Enu Odi-Ita Eku-Igirigiri road would start asphalting before June.
Adunmo who reassured that the quality of job done on the roads would not be compromised said the project consultant and relevant project monitoring units of the government are daily monitoring the sites to ensure compliance to project specifications.
Speaking with newsmen in Isaba Ekiti, the Managing Director of Delko Holdings Ltd, the construction company handling Ikole-Isaba-Ikoyi-Igbemo road, Mr. Femi Aluko said the company would continue to deploy more human and material resources to ensure quick completion of the road.
Aluko disclosed that the feat recorded on the road has been largely as a result of the company’s commitment to delivering quality job in time as it has been deploying more equipment and workforce on the road.
He also thanked the state government and RAAMP for providing timely funding for the project; noting that this has enabled the project to move seamlessly.
In her reaction, a community leader, Chief Adeola Oguntuase thanked Governor Biodun Oyebanji for approving the construction of the road; adding that the ongoing construction would help the road users to save travel time as they had only Ijesa-Isu road as the only alternative route to connect their communities.
She stated that the road would, on completion, help farmers to transport their farm produce seamlessly from the farm to the market, particularly as the road connects Igbemo Ekiti which is reputed for the production of the popular Igbemo rice.
In a related development, Ekiti RAAMP has issued letters of awards to bidders who won the bids for the construction of Ido-Ipere-Iludun road, Abe Cocoa-Ijarigbin road and Agbado-Ejisun-Ipole-Ise road.
The successful bidders are Messrs Syriton Nigeria Ltd, Messrs Strabic Construction Ltd and Messrs Hensek Integrated Services Ltd.