Ekiti awards ₦17.2 billion in rural road contracts

The Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has awarded contracts for the construction of 13 rural roads, spanning a total of 65.10 kilometers, valued at ₦17,219,565,143.22.

The contracts were awarded to seven contractors as part of the state’s initiative to bolster agricultural infrastructure and establish itself as the food basket of the South West.

At the contract signing ceremony held in Ado Ekiti, Hon. Sunday Adunmo, the State Project Coordinator, emphasized the project’s importance, emphasizing its 18-month completion timeline.

Adunmo highlighted the need for quality work and adherence to contractual standards, particularly local content compliance.

He also warned that substandard performance would result in contract termination, stressing that contractors must employ local workers, thereby creating jobs and improving rural livelihoods.

The road rehabilitation project commenced with advertisements for bids in national newspapers, receiving 93 bids from which seven contractors were selected based on merit.

Adunmo assured that the selection process was transparent and free from political influence. He also mentioned that the Project Monitoring Committee of RAAMP and other relevant government agencies would oversee compliance with the agreements.

The roads to be rehabilitated include:

• Enu Odi-Igirigiri Road
• Omisanjana-Ben Folarin-Oke Aso Road
• Ise-Imola Road
• Owode-Anaye Road
• Afolu-Odofin Road
• Oye-Are Road
• Ilupeju-Igbo Egan Road
• Iye-Isapa-Olopemeji-Ikun Road
• Erinmope-Irare-Ikosu Road
• Igbole-Egan-Osi-Iropora Road
• FMS Farm-Oke Ako Road
• Ikogosi-Aba-Ori Okuta-Ikogosi Road
• Ara-Ekameta School Road

The contractors awarded the projects are:

• Messrs. Dominant Engineering (Lot 1)
• Messrs. Hallekem Limited (Lot 2)
• Messrs. Millennium Technical Nigeria Limited (Lot 3)
• Messrs. Tundis Nigeria Limited (Lot 4)
• Messrs. Jadfem Nigeria Limited (Lot 5)
• Messrs. HMF Construction Limited (Lot 6)
• Messrs. Heriprom Engineering Limited (Lot 7)

Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, reiterated the government’s commitment to revamping the agricultural sector, ensuring farmers receive fair value for their labor while achieving food sufficiency.

Other state officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro; the Head of Service, Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi; and the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kolawole Ajobiewe, urged the contractors to meet expectations and complete the projects on schedule.

Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun, Commissioner for Information, commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his dedication to state development. He noted that these rural roads add to over 25 other state roads initiated by the administration within the past 18 months.

Olatubosun also highlighted a recent multibillion-naira memorandum of understanding with an agricultural investor as part of the governor’s efforts to make Ekiti State a food hub for the southwestern region.

Hon. Femi Ajayi, Special Adviser to the Governor on Independent Project Monitoring, assured contractors of regular site visits to ensure timely and high-quality road completion.