A United Kingdom-based Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Opeyemi Falegan, has cautioned contractors handling the airport project in Ekiti State against sub-standard and shoddy jobs.
Falegan said in a statement that “the latest warning became imperative because Ekiti people will not tolerate a situation where such long-awaited and economy-booster project will be abandoned for not meeting the specification of international air safety.”
The Founder of Opeyemi Falegan Foundation (OFF) described as “a right step in the right direction, the resolve of Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, to embark on a cargo airport project in the state.
“There is no doubt that the project will not only promote agriculture and economy of the state but also facilitate unprecedented development in the area of infrastructure, health, education, transportation and tourism among others in the state.”
According to him, such project was most needed in a state like Ekiti “with vast agricultural output, tourism potential and an array of virgin lands for industrial and agricultural purposes but crying for investors to tap into.”
He noted that “the success and sustenance of the project should be a collective collaboration between the present administration, successive ones and all Ekiti people through positive contributions.
“Either it is an air cargo or a full-fledged airport both are capital intensive projects and the building of such is not limited to its execution alone but the ability to sustain and make it functional, hence the need for collaboration of all in this regard.
“Therefore, it is high time government continued to provide a more enabling environment for investors to partner the state on various sectors of the economy like agriculture, tourism, education and other mineral resources among others.
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“The development will also go a long way to sustain the airport and banish poverty and other related ills across all nooks and crannies of the state. Many direct and indirect jobs will be created while the purchasing power of Ekiti People will increase for a better living condition.
Falegan commended the efforts of the present administration in the state at ensuring that the long-awaited project becomes a reality, saying the mode of financing of the project which was adopted by the government deserved a thumb up by all.
He said: “Ekiti, being a small state with the federal allocation as its major source of revenue could not have achieved any meaningful feat if it is to finance such project especially with the current Nigerian economic status in which many states of the federation are still struggling to pay workers salaries and other commitments.
“But with a partner like African Development Bank and other private partners who have shown interest at financing the project, the success of Ekiti State Cargo Airport is guaranteed.”
He, however, called for more understanding and sacrifice of all the stakeholders saddled with the art, construction and navigation works at the site of the project to achieve a world-class standard and quality work.
He said: “Major problems associated with Nigerian projects are shoddy and sub-standard jobs and the scenario had led many capital projects in the country to be abandoned while the completed ones are not safe for use. But, we don’t want such development on Ekiti airport project.”
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