OJUDU QUESTIONS FG OVER ALLEGED DOWNGRADE OF AKURE–ADO-EKITI ROAD PROJECT
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By: Fasasi Hammad
Former National Assembly member and ex-presidential political adviser, Babafemi Ojudu, has demanded an explanation from the Federal Government over the alleged downgrade of the Akure–Ado-Ekiti dual carriageway project to a refurbished single carriageway.
Ojudu expressed disappointment that a road project originally awarded for dualisation was reportedly delivered as only a rehabilitated single carriageway.
In a Facebook post on Tuesday titled, “What happened to the Akure–Ado-Ekiti dual carriageway,” Ojudu recalled that the original contract, valued at about N30 billion, was awarded to Dantata & Sawoe in November 2019 before it was later cancelled.
He said the Federal Executive Council subsequently approved the re-award of the project on March 29, 2023, as a 50-kilometre dualisation project at an estimated cost of N95.98 billion.
According to him, the Akure–Ondo State boundary section was awarded to Samchase Nigeria Limited and Horizon Construction Company Limited for N46.68 billion, with a 24-month completion period.
The section from the Ekiti boundary towards Ado-Ekiti, he added, was awarded to Kopek Construction Limited for N49.30 billion, with a 30-month completion period. The project was officially flagged off in May 2023.
Ojudu questioned Works Minister, David Umahi, over the reported change in the scope of the project, insisting that a refurbished single carriageway should not replace a dual carriageway without an explanation.
He demanded clarification on the original contract, payments made, work delivered and the fate of the remaining components of the project.
Describing the road as critical to the economic and social activities of Ondo and Ekiti states, Ojudu said residents had welcomed the initial announcement of the reconstruction and dualisation project and were encouraged when contractors began clearing the route and constructing bridges and other structures designed for the second carriageway.
He, however, alleged that construction activities had stalled, with heavy equipment removed from the site and the proposed second carriageway seemingly abandoned.
Ojudu said the presence of bridges and earthworks prepared for a dual carriageway, alongside only one rehabilitated carriageway, raised serious questions about the execution of the project.
He called on the Works Minister to provide clear answers to the people of Ondo and Ekiti states.
Attempts to obtain a response from the Ministry of Works were unsuccessful, as its Director of Information and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, and the Minister’s Senior Special Assistant on Media, Francis Nwaze, reportedly did not respond to enquiries.
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