BY LAW IBITOYE
To improve agricultural infrastructure, enhance rural connectivity and boost food production, Ekiti State Government has awarded #17,219,565,143.22k to seven contractors for maintenance and rehabilitation of rural roads in the state
The State Project Coordinator, Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, (RAAMP), Hon. Sunday Adunmo, disclosed this on Tuesday while signing contract for the award of thirteen roads under the backlog maintenance and rehabilitation intervention of rural roads.
Hon Adunmo said the thirteen roads cut across the three senatorial Districts of the state, comprising ; Enu Odi-Igirigiri Road, Omisanjana -Ben Folarin-Oke Aso Road, Ise-Imola Road, Afolu-Odofin Road, Oye-Are Road, Ilupeju-Igbo Egan Road, Iye-isapa-Olopomeje-Ikun Road, Erinmope- Irare-Ikosu Road, Igbole-Egan-Osi-Iropora Road, FMS Farm-Oke Ako Road, Ikogosi-Aba-Ori Okuta-Ikogosi Road, Ara-Ekameta School Road.
The RAAMP Coordinator remarked that the development marks an important milestone in the state to make lives worth living for both the urban and rural dwellers .
Hon Adunmo said, “After five years of delay for the commencement of the project, the signing of the contract will go a long way in making Ekiti the food basket of Southwest.”
Today’s event concludes the process that began earlier this year when we advertised requests for bids for 65.10 km rural roads for rehabilitation in national dailies. A pre- bid meeting in March ensured transparency and fairness in the selection process. After receiving 93 bids, we are pleased to announce that 7 bids were successful”.
While congratulating the successful bidders, the Ekiti State RAAMP COORDINATOR, Hon Adunmo listed the contractors as follows:
-Messrs Dominant Engineering
– Messrs Challenges Limited
– Messrs Millennium Technical Nigeria Limited
– Messrs Tundis Nigeria Limited
– Messrs Jadfem Nigeria Limited
– Messrs HMF Construction Limited and Messrs Heriprom Engineering Limited .
Hon Adunmo charged the contractors to work according to the standard specifications, adding that they should empoly locals in their areas of operations.
According to Hon Adunmo” Employing rural dwellers would create job opportunities and improve rural areas. Monitoring committee of RAAMP, relevant government agencies such as the Local Content Office among others would visit sites to check level of compliance, any contractor found wanting will have his contract terminated.
Ekiti State governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, represented by the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi, said Ekiti would witness massive production of foods with the signing of contracts, saying an end has come to farm produces wasting due to lack of good roads.
Giving goodwill messages, The State Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun applauded the sincerity of Governor Oyebanji in ensuring Ekiti rural roads are accessable.
Also, Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Boluwade, decried the level at which bad roads have affected food sufficiency in the state . He commended the state Government and the State RAAMP Coordinator for making the project come true, saying, the contract will improve rural infrastructure.
On her part, Secretary to the State Government, SSG , Dr Abibat adubiaro, descrbed the event as a step in the right direction. She gave an assurance that when the phase is completed the state will press further.
The event was attended by the seven contractors and senior government functionaries from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies,( MDAs).