The Governor of Ekiti State, Biodun Oyebanji has assured the residents of the state that government would undertake more road projects next year, following requests by towns and villages.
Oyebanji disclosed that at Isinbode-Ekiti, Ayekire Local Government, while launching the reconstruction of Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road to connect Ekiti South Senatorial District to the northern axis of the state.
He promised to accelerate development in his second year in office.
The governor also spoke about the commencement of the World Bank Assisted Rural Access to Market Project, which will focus on rural roads linking farms to markets.
He stressed that he had overcome challenges in the last 12 months to keep some of his campaign promises, especially in infrastructure upgrade, vowing that his administration was primed to do much more in the second year.
Oyebanji apologised to the community for the pain the commuters plying the route must have experienced on the deplorable road, noting that the year of pains had gone with the beginning of the reconstruction work.
Describing the move as keeping to the promise he made while campaigning across the state, the Governor noted that he would keep to the social contracts signed with the people to build a trust between the government and the governed.
While tracing the trajectories of government’s interventions on the road, Oyebanji said, “You know that this road has undergone three stages of rehabilitation, but all were short-lived. But this current reconstruction is going to be total.
“All the lapses witnessed in the previous rehabilitation shall be corrected to make this one last and durable.
“We are assuring you that as we begin the second year of this administration, greater things shall continue to happen to our people. We will continue to fulfil our promises to you. This is our pledge and we will keep to it.
“I want to charge the contractor handling the project to do a good job that he has been known for and it must be delivered in record time.”
Works Commissioner Sola Adebayo said the Ikole-Ara-Isinbode road was central to economic development of the area.
He said Oyebanji’s government was spending huge sum on rehabilitation and reconstruction of roads on the premise that it was a propelling force for improved industrial development and investment drives.
Adebayo called on the company handling the road project to deliver the best job and finish in record time, to meet the yearnings of the motorists.
The Onisin of Isinbode, Oba Adesoji Akinyemi, said the road was the shortest route from Ekiti to Kwara, lauding the governor for being a promise keeper, which he exhibited with the project and the restoration of light to Gbonyin Local Government.
