Ondo, NDDC sign treaty on Araromi-Akodo-Lekki road

State govt raises taskforce on forest reserves, logging

Ondo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NNDC) yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the neglected Araromi-Akodo-Lekki road.The MoU, which is aimed at building the road for integrated economic development, was signed on behalf of Ondo by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Ifedayo Abegunde, while the NDDC Managing Director, Mr. Nsima Ekere, signed on behalf of the commission.

Speaking before the signing of the MoU, which held at the Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, lamented the condition of the residents of the southern senatorial district of the state.

Akeredolu, who was delighted over the development, expressed optimism that the Araromi-Akodo-Lekki road would be delivered before the expiration of the tenure of the Chairman of the NDDC Board, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.

He, however, expressed concern that the southern senatorial district of the state had been neglected for years despite that the treasures of the state are deposited in the area.

Ndoma-Egba said the commission had decided to review all NDDC’s projects in Ondo State to ensure efficient projects delivery.He noted that out of NDDC’s 785 projects in the state, 381 are ongoing; 266 had been neglected; 96 were either stalled or abandoned and 42 had been awarded, but contractors are yet to return to sites.

The state Deputy Governor, Agboola Ajayi, said the project would bring economic development to the people of the area and the state in general.Meanwhile, Governor Akeredolu has inaugurated a taskforce to monitor forest reserves and logging activities in the state.

This was after the ban on logging on March 3, a week after the governor was sworn in. The Acting Permanent Secretary of the state Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr. Dalling Salau, who inaugurated the taskforce, said it has the mandate to combat encroachment and unlawful activities in the forests.

Salau added that the taskforce would also deal with illegal planting of cannabis.The taskforce headed by Lt. Nurudeen Maiadua comprises of personnel of the Nigerian Army, the police and forest guards.