By Jubril Bada

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Ondo State Government on Thursday signed the upgrading of 46.6 kilometers and spot improvement of 74.76 kilometers rural roads with nine indigenous construction companies in the state.

The four lots spot improvement and five lots of rural road upgrading totalling 121.36km will gulp N7,489,469,853.20.

The project being sponsored by International Development Agency (World Bank), French Development Agency (AFD) and the Federal Government cut across nine local government areas in the state.

The benefitting local governments include Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Idanre, llaje, Owo, Okitipupa, lle-Oluji/Okelgbo, Akure North and lrele.

During the official signing ceremony of the project, the State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, said state government is  fully committed to road construction through Rural Access and Agriculture Market Project (RAAMP) for the improved living conditions of the people in the affected communities as the end users based in the rural areas of the state.

The governor who was represented by the Director-General, RAAMP, Mr. Adeniyi Adelabu, disclosed that the state government had put forward its counterpart fund of N3.47b for the execution of the project, saying the project is for humanity to touch lives.

His words:”The access roads of two parts which include spot improvement and rural upgrading. It is a day of joy for contractors and win-win situation to move the state forward.

“I want you (contractors ) to know that you enter into agreement and relationship binding us together; you must keep to the relationship by delivering the contracts at the specified period coupled with quality job.

“The process of the contracts is going to be dynamic as there is financial body which relate with bank from time to time and update information on how to move forward, and your cooperation is needed to do it better.”

Aiyedatiwa stressed that the contactors should see themselves as being privileged among the contractors bidding for the contracts, and must approach the work with all seriousness and deliver as scheduled without compromising standards and specifications.

Earlier, the State Project Coordinator, Mr.Femi Adetanmi, explained that the spot improvement of 74.76km rural roads would cost N1,869,418,851.05 while that of rural roads upgrading would gulp N5,620,051,002.20.

Speaking on contracts duration, Adetanmi disclosed that 12-month is for the spot improvement rural road, while 18-month is for rural road upgrading.

According to him, consultants are on ground to supervise the contractors within the time scheduled for the completion of projects.

“Before we evaluated the contractors for the job, we considered their experience with development partners, adequate cash flow and other factors and criteria, before we harmonized them for the job,” Adetanmi said.

Speaking with The Hope, the contractors for the project, Adekanmi Adenipekun said the projects were awarded to indigenous companies based on merit and the interest of the state governor on the development of rural areas in the state.