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The Oyo State Government of Oyo State has approved the total reconstruction of the 65-kilometre Moniya/Ijaiye/Iseyin Road.
The State’s Commissioner Infrastructure, Works and Transport, Prof Raphael Afonja, who revealed this on Tuesday at the end of the State executive council meeting, said the contract was awarded to KOPEK Construction Company for N9.9 billion.
The immediate past government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi had in February 2018, awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the road at the cost of N7 billion, out of which N2 billion was paid to the contractor.
But after resuming office in May 2019, Governor Seyi Makinde, revoked the contract after lamenting the slow pace of work and shoddy job being done.
Afonja noted that several key components in the road project had been upgraded in other for it to be qualitative, long-lasting and fitted to serve the state better.
His words: “Governor Seyi Makinde and the Executive Council of Oyo state have approved the total reconstruction of Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin road which is an important road that will add value to the economy of Oyo state.
“We are all aware that the contract for the road was terminated by His Excellency due to the inconsistency and the underperformance of the other contractor that was engage by the past administration.
“I must say that one of the things that was captured in the approval process is that this road would be completed in 12months. We have selected a contractor that will be carrying out this project in the person of KOPEK and we are hoping that by the end of the week they will mobilise to site and start work. So, we look forward to getting this road completed by this time next years.
“The Moniya-Ijaye-Iseyin is not a federal but a state road, but Oyo-Iseyin road is a federal road. In terms of the amount its actually N9, 939, 702,66.53.
“The question that might arise is that the initial award that was terminated was approximately N7billion, however, we have reviewed the design to make sure that the road constructed for this important food basket of the state has quality.
“We made some changes into the design, we increased the strobing cause from about 150mm to about 200mm, we also changed the asphaltic wearing course from 4om to 50mm, we also realise that there was inadequate provision for drainage system for that road in the initial design but we have changed that to provide adequate drainage for it.
“And also, we considered the flunctuations basically in terms of pricing of materials, take for instance the price of bitumen. That was also factored into the new pricing. One thing we have also factored is that the road will last for a minimum of ten years.”
Also speaking at a brefing at the end of the State Executive Council meeting, the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Dahud Shagodoyin confirmed the award of a N170 million contract for the printing of 100,000 copies of a compendium of past WASSCE questions, answers and marking schemes on 10 subjects, which will be distributed to SSS 3 students for free.
He also disclosed that the executive council had accepted to provide for e-training and skills development for teachers in public schools in the state.