“As you all know that road construction is very important to any community that is hoping to develop and no doubt this newly flagged off road when completed will help to expand our land for socio-economic development that we have been praying for over the years. We commend our governor for remembering us after many years.”
These were the words of the Apeju of Ilupeju- Ekiti, Oba Emmanuel Olaleye during the flagging off of construction works on the Ilupeju- Ire- Ijan-Igbemo road linking Oye, Gbonyin and Irepodun-Ifelodun local government areas of the state by the governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi.
The governor had tagged the 2020 budget as ‘Budget of Deliverables’ where he assured residents that his administration would embark on massive road construction across the 16 local government areas of the state and other life impacting programmes in the overall interest of the people.
Hitting the ground running on what to expect for the year on January 13 , the governor flagged off construction of four major roads linking seven local council areas which he said would have long term impact on the socio-economic development of the state.
The roads are Agbado-Ode-Isinbode- Omuo road linking Gbonyin and Ekiti East local government areas; Ilupeju- Ire- Ijan-Igbemo road linking Oye, Gbonyin and Irepodun-Ifelodun local government areas; Oye-Ikun-Otun-Dairy farm road which links Oye, Ilejemeje and Moba council areas, and Aramoko-Erijiyan-Ikogosi road in Ekiti West local Government Area.
Considering the importance of these roads, the residents rolled out drums to welcome the governor including traditional rulers of beneficiary communities to praise the governor for remembering their long abandoned roads.
Oba Olaleye who said that the road had been abandoned since 2013, noted that the abandonment affected the expansion and development of the community. While commending the governor for his administration’s determination to extend the dividends of democracy to every community, the traditional ruler urged residents to cooperate with the contractor for the timely completion of the project.
On his part, 45-year-old artisan, Mr. Bisi Akintoye noted that the governor has demonstrated that the yearnings and concerns of the people would always be his priority when embarking on protects.
The Onire of Ire Ekiti, Oba Victor Bobade said Fayemi’s decision to reconstruct Ilupeju-Ire-Igbemo-Ijan road was not unrelated to his relationship with the people whose pains the governor felt. He praised Fayemi for not politicising project execution in the state.
Oba Bobade said the road project would enhance the development of his domain, Ire-Ekiti as well as tackle the challenge of transporting goods from Ire Burnt Brick factory which had been revived by Fayemi in his first tenure.
For Sunday Osinkolu, a commercial driver, while speaking on the Agbado-Ode-Isinbode –Omuo road which links the state to the federal capital territory, “ Many of us as drivers can no longer put our vehicles on this road because of the bad condition and nobody wants to die.”
Another traditional ruler, the Olomuo of Omuo Ekiti, Oba Noah Omonigbehin thanked Fayemi for spreading development to other parts of the state.
Fayemi while speaking assured that no part of the state would be left out in terms of infrastructural development, noting that his government would continue to pursue lofty goals in spite of daunting financial challenges. The governor disclosed that the administration had sourced for funds to execute the capital projects which are captured in the 2020 budget.
On Oye-Ikun-Otun-Dairy farm road, the governor said the rehabilitation work would not only provide job opportunities for engineers, artisans and casual workers among others but would also boost the operations of Ikun Dairy farm which was recently taken over by Promasidor Nigeria Ltd.
He explained that the project was commenced in 2011 with its scope on selected sections but the new scope of work involved “total asphalt overlay from Oye to Ikun, with an extension to Ikun Dairy Farm up to Ekiti State boundary with Kwara State.”
According to him, “This road will boost the economic activities of this area and enhance agribusiness. You will recall that recently the state government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Promasidor Nigeria Ltd on resuscitating Ikun Dairy farm for milk production. This road project, when completed, will boost the operations of the company, facilitate easy access to the farm and marketing of the dairy products. The state’s Internally Generated Revenue will improve, apart from providing jobs for many of our youths.”