By Mary Agidi
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As all is for the construction of the 12.6kms first phase of Okitipupa/Igbokoda Bypass road this week, Ondo state government has assured the people whose property and cash crops would be affected that they would be compensated accordingly as soon as enumeration exercise is completed.
Disclosing this was the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Olawale Abdulsalam at the stakeholders’ meeting with the people of the Southern Senatorial district held in Okitipupa in respect of the project.
According to him, government is magnanimous to compensate farmers whose cash crops like cocoa, palm trees, cashew trees among others would be affected by the project, noting that the state Ministry of Agriculture is saddled with the responsibility of enumerating the crops and as soon as it is done, money will be released for the compensation in accordance with the template of what each crop value.
“On the mode of compensating cash crops owners, the Ministry of Agriculture will enumerate the value, they have a template of what should be paid on each cash crop and there are lots of cash crops we need to consider, in another one week the enumeration will be done”, he said.
Abdulsalam therefore enjoined the people of the area to cooperate with the contractors and ensure there is peace and harmony, noting that the safety of the contractors is paramount to the government.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works, Infrastructure and Lands, Engr Olayiwola Aminu noted that a liaison officer will be introduced to the contractors by the community leaders in selecting skilled workers to be employed from the area to work with the contractors.
He enjoined the people of the area to cooperate with the contractors and embrace the project as theirs considering the enormous benefits they would derive from it upon completion.
The Jegun of Idepe-Okitipupa, Oba Adetoye Obatuga who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers in the area lauded the gesture of the state government to deem it fit to construct the bypass road regardless of the huge amount it will gulp.
He assured of the readiness of the people to cooperate with the contractors in ensuring the successful execution of the project.
The Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology who hails from the area, Mr Femi Agagu expressed delight in the development, noting that the bypass is one of the preparation towards the achievement of the Port the state government is proposing in the area, adding that the bypass will ease movement when the Port is operational.
In a related development, the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Abdulsalam has commended the pace of work at which contractors handling Idanre/Ijoka, Oke-Ogba, Gaga, Isarun/Ibuji roads in the Central Senatorial District of the State construct the roads.
Abdulsalam with the Special Adviser to the governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr Raheem Olayiwola Aminu and the staffers of the ministry led by the Permanent Secretary, Engr Taiwo Otun paid an unscheduled visit to the sites of the ongoing road projects at the weekend expressed satisfaction with the quality of the work of most of the contractors.
Speaking on Idanre/Ijoka road, the Special Adviser to the governor explained that the project is in fulfilment of the governor’s promise during his election campaign to give the community another road that will enter the town.
Speaking with journalists on the level of work done on the roads, the Contractor in charge of the 6kms Gaga/Oke Aro road, Engr Kazeem Olabode assured to complete the project within the stipulated period, while Engr Emmanuel Obakin in charge of the 13.9kms Idanre/Ijoka road said about 7.8kms complete clearing has been done with eight culverts done while the shaping is in progress assuring that the construction company is working towards delivering the project before time.
