…Hints on Upgrading Pilot Roads
The Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has disclosed that it has paid N71,481,380 as compensation to farmers and other Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in 12 of the 13 roads it awarded in July.
Speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday, the State Project Coordinator, Hon Sunday Adunmo who noted that the beneficiaries were 217 farmers and other Project Affected Persons (PAPs) said RAAMP has also commenced the construction of a new mosque at Afolu in place of the old mosque which would be demolished later to allow creation of safe thoroughfare on the new road.
He said compensation is a critical component of the project as Project Affected Persons must be properly compensated before the commencement of civil works on the roads.
Adunmo who confirmed that site clearing had been completed on 12 roads explained that there was a delay in the payment of compensation to farmers on Igbole-Egan-Osi-Iropora road following the need for revalidation of PAPs hence the inability of the contractor to commence bush clearing.
The Coordinator who noted that progress report on the 13 roads showed different percentages of work done by each of the contractors hailed the contractors handling Oye-Are road and Ben Folarin-Omisanjana-Oke Aso road for their work pace which has gotten to concrete works; expressing hope that Oye-Are road may be completed within 12 months should the contractor continue work at that fast pace.
He stated that there is no room for shoddy jobs as the ongoing construction works are being monitored by the Project Monitoring Committee and the various Agencies of Government in charge of project monitoring.
While speaking on the economic benefits of the project to Ekiti people, the Project Coordinator revealed that all the contractors are employing both skilled and unskilled labour from the various project benefitting communities.
He added that the contractors have been mandated to procure construction materials that are available in the State in order to boost the economy of the State and curb capital flight.
Adunmo who stated that more road projects would be awarded in a couple of weeks disclosed that the five pilot roads initiated by the Project in 2021 would be revisited for upgrading.
The roads are Itaji-Orisunmibare road, Iyin-Odo Oro-Aroto road, Ago Aduloju-Kajola road, Imesi-Kosomolate -Ipole road, and Ogotun-Alagbede road.