Residents Protest Over Abandoned N22b Akure To Ado-Ekiti Road Project

Vehicular movements were yesterday halted on the Akure-Ekiti highway, as residents of Ondo and Ekiti states protested the abandoned N22billion Akure/Ado-Ekiti road dualisation project

The deplorable road has increased fares between Akure and Ado-Ekiti.

Travellers trapped in the gridlock, joined the protest.

CityNews Nigeria learnt that the protesters, comprising residents of Ekiti and Ondo states, under the aegis of Great Patriot for Better Initiative (GPBI), said the contract for dualising the road was awarded 15 months ago.

They alleged that the contractors had been mobilised, but were yet to begin work.

Inscriptions on the placards carried by the protesters read: “Too much of kidnapping, raping on Akure-Ado-Ekiti road”. “Governor Fayemi may not be too happy with the slowness of Akure-Ado-Ekiti road”. “Revoke Akure-Ado-Ekiti road contract from Dantata & Sawoe”.

“Dantata & Sawoe is frustrating the effort of Mr. President on road infrastructural development”. “Fix our roads, save our souls”. “After 15 months of mobilisation Dantata & Sawoe Company is nowhere to be found”. “Too much killings and robberies on Akure-Ado-Ekiti road”.

GPBI Head of Project Monitoring Comrade Niyi Majofodun urged the Federal Government to revoke the project.

He said: “The dualisation of Akure-Ado Ekiti road was awarded to Dantata & Sawoe in 2020 and it subsequently got mobilised in November 2020.

“The contractor refused to move to site until a few days ago after our organisation had petitioned the Office of the Director General of BPP over the abandonment of the project.

“It is on record that killings, kidnappings, robberies, raping and motor accidents have become uncontrollable on the road.

“We cannot afford to die in silence. We appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently look into this matter. We express our displeasure at the manner in which the director general of the BPP awarded the road.

“Mr. President should not allow his name to be dragged into the mud on this matter since he has performed his constitutional right by awarding the contract and subsequently mobilising the contractor. Therefore, he must ensure his directive is complied with.

“The contract should be revoked to save the lives of road ushers. The road is expected to be delivered within 30 months of award and till now no sophisticated equipment is seen on ground.”

The Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Citizen Engagement and Grassroots, Josemaria Adeusi, said it was best to revoke the contract if the contractor had not done anything significant.

Ex-Chairman of Akure North Local Government Rotimi Adeleye described the road situation as embarrassing and disgusting.

He said: “We are pleading to the government to come to our aid. Lives have been lost on this road, besides kidnappings.”