Makinde stops Ibadan circular road project

Oyo state governor, Mr Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, ordered a stop to the execution of the 32.2km Ibadan circular road project.

Makinde hinged his stoppage order on the dissatisfaction that the N70billion project flagged off by former Governor Abiola Ajimobi in June 2017 had only achieved about five per cent progress rate.

It will be recalled that Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state had then set an 18 months completion date for the first phase of the project, spanning 32.2km, adding that the project will be a Public/Private partnership with ENL consortium on a Build-Operate and Transfer model,

The project with an entire length of 110km was figured to be a four-lane, dual carriage motorway linking Lagos-Ibadan expressway to Ibadan-Ife highway at an estimated sum of N70 billion.

Makinde who handed down the stoppage order after an inspection of the project site, said the “pull back” will afford the state government the opportunity to take a holistic view at the project and make a decision on its viability.

“Basically, what we saw out there wasn’t encouraging. The agreement was signed in 2017, almost three years, and the work done is at five per cent.

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“Also, this is a concession to the tune of N65billion for a 32km road. So, we just felt that we need to pull back a little bit, look at things holistically and make a decision moving forward. That road is extremely important to the economy of Oyo state and if we are able to achieve only five per cent in three years, you can imagine how many years it will take to finish the road,” Makinde said.

Speaking earlier, the Executive Director, ENL Consortium, Dr Kemi George informed Makinde that the company had issues with some of its financial partners who pulled out of the deal hence the slow pace of work on the project site.

She had given the assurance that the company recently got other willing financiers to facilitate the continuation of the project.

Prior to Makinde’s visit to the circular road project site, Chairman, Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim Wing), Professor Sayed Malik, on a visit to governor’s office, reported that one of the 914 state pilgrims that participated in the 2019 Hajj absconded in Mecca.

According to Sayed, the board became aware of the disappearance of the state pilgrim, named Anifat Saheed, while it was preparing the last batch of pilgrims for their journey to King Abdulaziz International Airport, Jeddah on September 1.

He added that the board tried to locate the address of the pilgrim’s guarantor at Sango, Ibadan without success adding that none of Anifat’s guarantor or relations had come to the board office to ask about her whereabouts.

Sayed further disclosed that a total of N24, 628, 900.09, was refunded to the pilgrims before their departure to Saudi Arabia due to reduction in the 2019 hajj fare.