– Michael Ogunsiji Azeez
The federal government has assured Nigerians that, the ongoing reconstruction of Ajebandele-Sagamu section of Benin -Ore-Ofosu highway would be completed soon.
The Hon. Minister, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola gave the assurance on Tuesday during the Construction and Asphalt underlay of the dual carriage way phase IV section of the project.
Mr. Fashola emphasized that the contract which was awarded by President Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2014, was abandoned due to paucity of fund by the federal government.
He said that, since Buhari administration came on board with the intervention of the Sukuk fund in 2017, the work progress has improved significantly to meet the completion date of October, 2018.
The Minister who was represented by the South-West Director, Federal Highway, Engr. Emmanuel Adeoye confirmed that about 17.3km has been completed from the 98.1km representing 15.92% of the job done on the road.
Mr. Fashola said about N18billion naira has been released to the contractor from the N71,648,176,867.38 budgeted for the project, admitted that the project may not be completed this year due to the slow rate of work.
He pointed out that, the Federal government is committed to ensure the completion of the project in due course in order boost business activities of Nigerian Ports in Lagos to the South-South and South-East states of the country.
“The federal government is interested in the completion of the project because it will allow activities from Lagos Port to the South-South and South-East states of the country.
“The project has also enhance the security, and safety of road users by liasing and maintaining good networking relationship with the Nigerian Police.
“We project should have been completed by October this year, but because of paucity of fund in the past years, the project was abandoned by the contractors, and since Buhari administration came on board with the intervention of Sukuk fund, we have been able to pay the contractor N6billion in December, 2017 to continue the project. So with the slow rate of work, we may extend the completion date till 2019”, Mr. Fashola stressed.
He therefore, commended the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company, RCC for complying with the executive order of direct labour and high level of technology to expand the longevity of the road.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Society of Engineers has applauded the contractor for meeting the International standard of road construction, expressing satisfaction with the layout design of the asphalt, especially the water drainage of the road.
The Abeokuta branch Vice-Chairman of the NSE, Engr. Olanrewaju Apampa who spoke to newsmen after the site inspection commended the federal government for prompt release of fund to ensure speedy completion of the project.