From Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

No fewer than 32 construction firms have expressed interest in bidding for three new road projects under the Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (EK-RAAMP).

The projects include the 15.10km Ido-Ipere-Iludun Road (Lot 1), the 4.53km Abe Cocoa-Ijarigbin Road (Lot 2), and the 15.73km Agbado-Ijisun-Ipole-Ise Road (Lot 3), totalling 35.36km.

Speaking during the bid opening exercise in Ado-Ekiti, the State Project Coordinator, Mr Sunday Adunmo, represented by the Director-General of the Rural Access Roads Agency, Engr Emmanuel Oluwafemi, emphasised the importance of the roads to the food security agenda of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s administration. Adunmo assured the bidders of a fair and transparent evaluation process, adding that no favouritism would be entertained.

He further urged successful bidders to deliver quality projects, warning that substandard work would not be tolerated.

Similarly, the Director-General of the State Roads Fund (SRF), Mrs Folu Ogunlayi, encouraged bidders to ensure that Ekiti residents benefit maximally from the government’s investment in the projects.

For Lot 1 (Ido-Ipere-Iludun Road), eight bids were purchased, but seven were submitted. For Lot 2 (Abe Cocoa-Ijarigbin Road), 15 bids were purchased, with 14 submitted, while Lot 3 (Agbado-Ijisun-Ipole-Ise Road) saw 12 bids purchased, with 11 submitted. In total, 32 bids were submitted.

The representative of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Engr Samuel Ogundare, commended EK-RAAMP for the transparent process, stating that it would bolster the bidders’ confidence.

Additionally, Mr Eyitayo Fabunmi, Executive Director of CESFORD, a Non-Governmental Organisation, described the process as fair, noting that all bids were verified before being opened.

Some bidders expressed satisfaction with the process, describing it as both transparent and equitable.

Meanwhile, Governor Biodun Oyebanji has continued to receive widespread commendation following the approval of non-scheduled flight operations at the Ekiti International Cargo Airport.

In separate statements, Chief Tunde Aluko, a former Director at the Raw Materials Research and Development Council, and Otunba Rotimi Oluwatayo, a former Deputy Director at the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), congratulated the governor and Ekiti residents on the milestone.

Aluko praised Oyebanji for achieving this within two years of assuming office, adding that the development has restored stakeholders’ confidence in the administration. As the President of Aramoko Development Association (ADA), Aluko highlighted the potential of the airport to attract foreign investments and enhance economic opportunities in the state.

He further noted that the airport would bolster Nigeria’s agricultural sector by enabling farmers to airlift their produce to global markets. “Airports worldwide are hubs of economic activity, generating employment and attracting investment. The Ekiti Cargo Airport will exceed these expectations by exposing players in the agricultural sector to international markets,” Aluko stated.

Similarly, Otunba Oluwatayo, President of the Erijiyan Improvement Union (EIU), described the approval by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) as a significant step toward Ekiti’s prosperity. He called the project a legacy initiative that would elevate the state’s economy and improve the quality of life for its residents.

Mr John Ajayi, Publisher of MarketingEdge and Asiwaju of Ijan Ekiti, also commended Oyebanji, attributing the airport approval to the benefits of continuity in governance. Ajayi described the investment as an “everlasting dividend of democracy” and emphasised its potential to save time and reduce logistical challenges for Ekiti farmers and investors.

Ajayi further lauded Oyebanji’s efforts in fulfilling his campaign promises and urged residents to support the governor in advancing the state’s development.

Dr Folake O. Olojo, a lecturer at Dominion University, Ibadan, also praised the governor, stating that history would remember him for his impactful leadership. She noted that the airport would significantly boost the state’s revenue, allowing for increased provision of democracy dividends to Ekiti residents.