ICPC tracking 23.75bn Akure –Ikere Ekiti road project, contractors set to begin

Emmanuel AmudaSeptember 16, 2021

2 minutes read

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has tracked the dualization of Akure to Ikere-Ekiti Road project, Newsflash Nigeria reports.

Recall that the 26km Akure-Ikere Ekiti road project was awarded in July 2020 for N23.751 billion by the Federal Government.

The Dualization of Akure to Ado Ekiti road connecting Ondo and Ekiti states and it is on record that killings, kidnappings, robberies, raping and terrible motor accidents have become uncontrollable on the road.

Two months ago, the residents of Ondo and Ekiti states, under the aegis of Great Patriots for Better Initiative, GPBI, had staged a protest over the alleged desertion of the Akure/Ado-Ekiti road dualization awarded over 15 months ago by the Federal Government.

The protesters stormed the Igoba axis of the highway, in the Akure metropolis, to express their displeasure over the deplorable state of the road and lack of commitment to the project.

The group accused the contractor of failing to move to the site, 15 months after mobilization fees were paid by the government for the dualization of the road.

The dualization of Akure–Ado-Ekiti road was awarded to Dantata and Sawoe Construction Company in July 2020 and subsequently got mobilized in November 2020 however, the road has been abandoned.

But the company that handles the project explained to the ICPC on Wednesday, September 15 that the project was delayed because of the mobilisation by the Federal Government.

Nigeria News: Senate passes bill to establish Federal University in Ekiti

The contractors handling the dualising of Akure to Ikere-Ekiti Road has assured the ICPC of commencing work this September.

The 26km road project, awarded in July 2020 for N22.7 billion, was one of the constituency projects being tracked by the ICPC in Ondo State.

It comes under the third phase of its Constituency and Executive project tracking, led by David Oluwole.

Dr. Augustine Etafo, the company’s site agent, gave the assurance to the ICPC project tracking team in Akure on Wednesday.

Etafo, who explained that the project was delayed because the mobilisation by the Federal Government, was not really forthcoming, said the rainy season and interference by the communities also hindered the start of work.

He said: “We have commenced skeletal work and preliminary work.

“Palliative work has also started.

“Hopefully, full work will commence this September.”

The ICPC is tracking no fewer than 1,024 constituency and executive projects in 18 states, out of which 52 of the projects are located in Ondo State.

The tracking was to ensure value for money in the execution of the projects across all the constituencies.