Update on Road Infrastructure: Gov. Aiyedatiwa To Inaugurate Shoprite-Oda Road and Other Projects Soon -Babalola

 The Special Adviser on Infrastructure, Lands, and Housing, Pastor Ayo Babalola, has provided an update on the ongoing road projects in the state.

Babalola specifically assured that the ShopRite/Oda Road in Akure South Local Government Area would soon be completed and inaugurated by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa.

He disclosed this while assessing the progress of the road project.

According to him, the rise in the cost of construction materials has affected the pace of the work because the cost differences must be accommodated.

He explained that the governor is working hard to reduce the infrastructure deficit in the state.

Babalola stated that the governor approved road projects for the three senatorial districts in the state so that all communities would benefit from the state government's efforts.

He said, "If you look at the infrastructure deficit, it's substantial, but Mr. Governor is making efforts to ensure that every part of the state is addressed in terms of road infrastructure.

"The infrastructure deficit is indeed enormous, but by the grace of God, Mr. Governor has been working to bridge that gap.

"Oda Road is one of the projects inherited by this administration, although Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa was part of the previous administration led by the late Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

"The road begins from ShopRite as a dual carriageway, which is 4km long. The remaining part that reaches Oda is a single carriageway, but its width is 12.3 meters, and the length is 3.8km. So, the total length of the road is 7.8km.

"On the single carriageway, we have already covered almost 1km.

"As we discussed, the contractor will double the effort. He will stone-base another 2km and lay asphalt so that within the next eight weeks, we will have completed the Oda project.

"We are targeting the Oda project for the Governor to commission.

"Our people are closely monitoring the project, and we implore them to be patient; the project will be completed soon.

"When we awarded the contract, the tonnage of reinforcement was N420,000, but now it's about N1.4m.

"However, the contractor has not abandoned the site; he has continued working, and we have quickly addressed some observations made.

"The challenges are not different from what other contractors are facing at other sites."

Speaking on the quality of work done at the site, Engr. Funmilayo Oluwatayo, Director of Civil Engineering at the Ministry of Works, explained that there was no way the contractor could cut corners.

He said that resident engineers and other quality control officers from the ministry are always on-site to monitor the project.

"Since the contractors began work, they have been following the specifications and design of the road.

"Besides, we have our quality control personnel on-site, monitoring the quality of work done there.

"We also have our resident engineers permanently stationed there, supervising the work accordingly.

"We are all aware of the changes in prices of construction materials, but the contractors cannot cut corners because we have already provided them with specifications, including the specifications for the asphalt they are laying, which are given to them at the asphalt plant by the Quality Control Department of this ministry.

"So, they produce according to the design given to them. We maintain high standards for the work done at the site. The increase in the prices of materials does not affect the quality of work done at the site."