The Ekiti State Government through the State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has awarded contracts for 13 rural roads, covering a total of 65.10 km, to seven contractors.
Ekiti News reports that these contracts are valued at approximately ₦17,219,565,143.22.
This initiative aims to enhance agricultural infrastructure and position Ekiti State as the food basket of the South West.
The State Project Coordinator, Hon. Sunday Adunmo, emphasized the significance of the project during the contract signing ceremony in Ado Ekiti, highlighting its expected completion within 18 months.
Hon. Adunmo stressed the importance of quality work and adherence to contractual standards, including local content compliance, and warned that substandard performance would lead to contract termination.
The Project Coordinator also noted the requirement for contractors to hire local employees, thus creating job opportunities and improving rural livelihoods.
He explained that the project to rehabilitate 65.1km of rural roads, which began with advertisements for bids in national dailies, received 93 bids out of which seven (7) were selected based on merit.
Hon. Adunmo assured that the selection process was transparent and not influenced by political patronage.
The Project Coordinator also mentioned that the Project Monitoring Committee of RAAMP and other relevant government agencies would ensure compliance with the agreements.
Below are the awarded roads:
- Enu Odi-Igirigiri Road
- Omisanjana-Ben Folarin-Oke Aso Road
- Ise-Imola Road
- Owode-Anaye Road
- Afolu-Odofin Road
- Oye-Are Road
- Ilupeju-Igbo Egan Road
- Iye-Isapa-Olopemeji-Ikun Road
- Erinmope-Irare-Ikosu Road
- Igbole-Egan-Osi-Iropora Road
- FMS Farm-Oke Ako Road
- Ikogosi-Aba-Ori Okuta-Ikogosi Road
- Ara-Ekameta School Road
The contractors for these projects are:
Messrs. Dominant Engineering (Lot 1)
Messrs. Hallekem Limited (Lot 2)
Messrs. Millennium Technical Nigeria Limited (Lot 3)
Messrs. Tundis Nigeria Limited (Lot 4)
Messrs. Jadfem Nigeria Limited (Lot 5)
Messrs. HMF Construction Limited (Lot 6)
Messrs. Heriprom Engineering Limited (Lot 7)
Mr Ebenezer Boluwade, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security reiterated the government’s vision to revamp the agricultural sector, ensuring farmers receive value for their labour while achieving food sufficiency.
Other state officials, including the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Habibat Adubiaro; the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi; and the Commissioner for Transportation; Mr Kolawole Ajobiewe, urged the contractors to meet expectations and complete the projects promptly.
Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun, the Commissioner for Information commended Governor Biodun Oyebanji for his commitment to state development.
The Commissioner noted that these rural roads add to over 25 other state roads undertaken by the administration within 18 months. Olatubosun highlighted a recent multibillion-naira memorandum of understanding with an investor in the agricultural sector as part of the governor’s efforts to make Ekiti State a food hub for the southwestern region.