Group cautions Ondo, NDDC on Akodo-Araromi road project

The Ondo State Local Content Stakeholders (OSLCS) has cautioned the state government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) on awarding contract for the proposed Akodo-Ararami road project.

The group’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Wale Ayejuni, gave the warning in a statement yesterday in Akure yesterday.

This followed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the state government and the NDDC on April 5, April 2017 in Akure.

The PRO urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu not to award the contract to an incapable contractor.

According to him, awarding the project to an incompetent contractor would lead to its abandonment, as was the case of “the NDDC’s N19bn Ugbonla-Oghoye Road, which was awarded since 2010.” Another project was the Ayetoro community coastal embankments projects that was yet to be completed, even though it had been fully paid for.

The group recommended that an important project as this should be awarded to Setraco Construction Company, because of its track record of completing a 76km road in Ilaje in less than three years.

Ayejuni said the project would bring development to the area, especially the people living in the coastal communities in Ilaje and Ese-Odo local council areas of the state.

He stressed: “The road would further boost the economic activities in the area, because it would link Lagos State, which is the commercial nerve centre of the country.”

He said when completed it would take only 30 minutes to drive to Lagos from Ilaje.

“At this period of recession, it is reasonable for the government to be prudent with the available resources for the benefits of the citizens,” he said.