BY LAW IBITOYE
The Leader of the Senate, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele has facilitated approval for the dualisation of Ado-Ekiti -Ikare-Akoko road, a 31-kilometre highway that connects Ekiti State to Federal Capital Territory through Ondo, Edo and Kogi States.
The federal government gave approval for the road which was captured in the 2024 Appropriation Act, enacted to implement strategic infrastructure projects to create opportunities for Nigerians across the 36 states of the federation.
The senate leader disclosed this during a feedback session with a legal icon and Chancellor of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola on Monday.
The Ado-Ekiti-Ikare-Akoko road which has suffered decades of neglect by successive governments even before the advent of democracy is one of the 12 federal roads that connect Ekiti State to Kogi, Kwara, Ondo and Osun
senator Opeyemi Bamidele , considering the significance of the road which serve as links to other neighbouring states pushed for its approval by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Other federal roads that connect Ekiti to Kogi, Kwara, Ondo and Osun
among others are: Ifaki-Otun road, Ifaki-Ilasa-Omuo road, Ado-Ikere road, Ado-Ijan-Ikare road, Ado-Iyin-Aramoko road, Aramoko-Efon-Ijebu Jesa road, Efon-Iwaraja and Otun-Erinmope-Odo Owa road.
At the session on Monday, Bamidele revealed that the dualisation of the Ado-Ekiti-Ikare-Akoko road was captured in the 2024 Appropriation Act and its reconstruction would commence before the end of 2024 financial year.
He explained that the reason for the dualisation of the road “is due to the volume of traffic on the inter-state highway that connects Ekiti to Abuja through Ondo, Edo and Kogi States. It is a decision taken by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Aside, it is not only that the road was captured in the 2024 Appropriation Act. The Honourable Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has identified it to the management and staff of the Federal Ministry of Works as a priority federal road, whose reconstruction must take off this fiscal year.
“The federal government has already commenced the design of the road because what was decided was that the road should be dualised from Ejigbo in Ado Ekiti up till 31 kilometres to Ikare Akoko. We will continue from there as a single lane.
“The reason for dualisation is due to the volume of traffic on this corridor. When fully executed, the road will stand the test of time. This was a decision taken not just by the minister, but also by the president, who has tremendous respect for you.”
Bamidele, also, recounted how thousands of students of the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti trooped out on Monday to protest the deplorable condition of the Ado-Ekiti-Ikare-Akoko road.
Recall that students protested over the deplorable condition of the roads on Monday. They did not know the federal government had already awarded the contract to dualise the 31-kilometre road.
In his response, Are Afe Babalola expressed delight about the dualisation of the road ,noting that the news of its reconstruction was the news of the year to him.
He said the news about the dualisation of the primary road directly connecting ABUAD with other parts of the federation “is the news of the year to me in particular and Ekiti people in general.”
The elder stateman urged the senate leader to support Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, noting that both of them “are absolutely committed to the development of Ekiti State.”
Commenting on approval for reconstruction of the road, Governor Oyebanji appreciated the federal government, assured Ekiti residents that the road would be fixed. He said the minister for works will be in Ekiti on Saturday to access the road.