Minister of works and housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, says the federal government will complete the construction and dualisation of the Akure/Iju-Itagbolu/Ikere/Ado-Ekiti Road in 24 months.
The road has been in deplorable condition for almost 15 years.
Fasola who flagged off the construction and dualisation of the road yesterday in Akure, the Ondo State capital said the project would cost N90 billion.
The minister who apologised to the people of Ondo and Ekiti States for the delay in reconstructing the road, said every necessary payment had been made to the contractor to complete it within 24 months.
Fashola said the award and flag-off of the road took so long because of the process required by the new procurement law.
The former governor of Lagos State saidt the financing of the project has been taken care of by NNPC, adding that work would not stop till completion.
He commended the minister of state (Transport), Prince Ademola Adegoroye, for his unrelenting efforts in ensuring the road was awarded, saying he had done well, even more than those who spent four years or eight years in office.
According to Fashola, “Barely under a year, I know how many memoranda he (Adegoroye) had presented. He chases me with the telephone every day on this road.
“He told me he would not be able to return home (to Ondo State) after the expiration of tenure if the road is not awarded and reconstructed,” the works minister said.
In a remark, Adegoroye said he is fulfilled that he achieved his vision of seeing to the reconstruction of the Akure-Ado Ekiti road for the economic prosperity of the two states.
Adegoroye said, “Each week I go to his office and he briefs me every week with development. Akure, Ado Road is so important to us. A lot of people live in Ado and work in Akure and vice versa.’’
