The Federal Government has said the delay in the completion of the 98-kilometre Oyo-Ogbomoso road project awarded to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) necessitated the termination of the contract.
Works Minister Dave Umahi announced this yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, at a stakeholders’ meeting on the condition of federal roads in the state.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the engagement was premised on Enhancing Federal Roads in Oyo State: Challenges and Sustainable Solutions.
Umahi noted that the prolonged delay in completing the project had caused hardship among commuters and slowed economic activities in the area.
The minister assured the people that the project would soon be re-awarded to a new contractor.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration was committed to delivering the Oyo-Ogbomoso road project in the shortest possible time.
‘The Oyo-Ogbomoso road project has dragged on for too long. So, we cannot continue to watch as businesses and means of livelihoods suffer due to its non-completion.
‘In view of this, the Federal Government will take a decisive action to ensure the project is completed without further delay’, Umahi said.
Stakeholders at the meeting, which was facilitated by the All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker representing Egbeda/Ona Ara Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Akin Alabi, frowned at RCC for not completing the road project on time.
They urged the Federal government to accelerate the completion of the project without further delay.
They also urged the government to fast-track the rehabilitation of Ibadan-Ilesa dual carriage way and other federal roads in Oyo State and the Southwest region.
Also, the Federal Government has announced plans to rehabilitate an 18-kilometre section of the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta expressway with reinforced concrete pavement.
Umahi announced this yesterday while assessing the condition of the road and the progress so far made in its rehabilitation.
The minister said the government was committed to completing the project.
He said the 78-kilometre expressway, initially awarded to Julius Berger Plc eight years ago, had faced numerous challenges.
According to him, while Julius Berger completed one carriageway, the project remained unfinished.
Umahi said: ‘We are here to look at the Lagos-Ota-Abeokuta Expressway. The total kilometer is 78. It was awarded to Julius Berger about eight years ago. Berger has completed one carriageway fully. The Ogun State government has taken off the section that is within Ogun State. That is about 60 kilometres. So, we are left with 18 kilometres.
‘What we intend to do is to award this 18 kilometres on reinforced concrete pavements and then wait for the Ogun State government to finish its own.
‘Then we take both over and then do it, operate and maintain it through a concession agreement’.
