Ekiti pays N71million to 217 farmers as compensation for road construction

The Ekiti State Government on Thursday disclosed that it has paid N71,481,380 million as compensation to farmers and other Project Affected Persons (PAPs) in 12 of the 13 roads it awarded in July.

Speaking with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) Project Coordinator, Mr Sunday Adunmo said that the beneficiaries were 217 farmers and other Project Affected Persons (PAPs).

He said that RAAMP has also commenced the construction of a new mosque at Afolu in place of the old mosque which would be demolished later to allow the creation of a safe thoroughfare on the new road.

Adumo said that compensation is a critical component of the project as Project Affected Persons must be properly compensated before the commencement of civil works on the roads.

The project coordinator who confirmed that site clearing had been completed on 12 roads explained that there was a delay in the payment of compensation to farmers on Igbole-Egan-Osi-Iropora road following the need for revalidation of beneficiaries of compensation, hence the inability of the contractor to commence bush clearing.

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According to him, the progress report on the 13 roads showed different percentages of work done by the contractors.

He hailed the contractors handling Oye-Are road and Ben Folarin-Omisanjana-Oke Aso road for their work pace which has gotten to concrete works; expressing hope that Oye-Are road may be completed within 12 months should the contractor continue work at that fast pace.

He assured that there would be no room for shoddy jobs as the ongoing construction works are being monitored by the Project Monitoring Committee and the various Agencies of Government in charge of project monitoring.

While speaking on the economic benefits of the project to Ekiti people, the Project Coordinator revealed that all the contractors are employing both skilled and unskilled labour from the various project-benefitting communities.

He added that the contractors have been mandated to procure construction materials that are available in the State to boost the economy of the State and curb capital flight.

Adunmo who stated that more road projects would be awarded in a couple of weeks, disclosed that the five pilot roads initiated by the Project in 2021 would be revisited for upgrading.

The roads are Itaji-Orisunmibare Road, Iyin-Odo Oro-Aroto Road, Ago Aduloju-Kajola Road, Imesi-Kosomolate -Ipole Road, and Ogotun-Alagbede Road.