Road Commissioning: FG - financed Road linking Ekiti -Osun State opens, speedy  Commercial  and Transport  activities expected

The Federal Government -financed road linking Ekiti -Osun State has been commissioned, the road is expected to boost both  commercial, social and developmental activities  across the two states.

The Efon Alaaye -Erinmo-Iwaraja Road links the three towns of Efon Alaaye in Ekiti State , Erinmo and Iwaraja in Osun State.

The road  linking the two  states was commissioned and handed  over to the states  in  Efon Alaaye  Ekiti State amid hopes that the new infrastructure will help reduce road fatalities, ease mobility and spur trade within the two states  as well as with their neighbouring states.

 President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the road   on  Thursday, June 16, 2022 . The event was  attended by government officials , transport operators, members of parliament and traditional chiefs draped in colourful regalia.

*President Buhari who was represented by the Minister of Industry,  Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo said, "As you can all see, we are handing over today a 22 kilometre Road, which links the three towns of Efon Alaaye in Ekiti State and Erinmo and Iwaraja in Osun State."

Buhari remarked " By linking Ekiti and Osun State together,  this road becomes a critical component of our national road network.''

 President Buhari further remarked, " This road is also a statement of economic efficiency and ease of doing business.  This is because the travel time of averagely One hour before construction has now been reduced to 20minutes with the completion of the road.''

The Representative of the Minister of Works and Housing , the Zonal Director  South West in the Ministry, Engr. Ademola Kuti remarked, "The other handing over formalities that will follow these formalities which is  flagged  off today in Ekiti will also  be in : Delta State for Isoko Ring Road Section II covering Aviara -Uzere, Jigawa State for Phase II of Hadejia - Nguru covering Kirikasama -Nguru, Gombe State for Phase II  of the Gombe -Numan -Yola Road  covering Gombe- Kaltungo ,  Yobe State for Section II and Phase I of the Nguru -Gashua -Bayamari Road covering Gashua to Bayamari ; Section I, Phase II covering Nguru to Gashua  and Nasarawa State for Lafia-Obi-Awe -Tunga  Road."

Fashola continued, "These projects represent major investment in road transport infrastructure,  which is a commitment of the Buhari administration as a driver for economic growth and prosperity."

Earlier in his welcome address,   the Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Mr.Bashir Nura Alkali who was represented by the Controller of Works Ekiti State, Engr.Ishaq Lawal said, "As part of President Muhammadu Buhari’s developmental agenda of addressing road infrastructural development across the length and breadth of Nigeria, the Federal Government as a policy direction has focused on the completion of several on-going projects to stimulate economic development, job creation and promoting local content. The focus is to link the major arterial roads to refineries, ports, tertiary institutions and high volume commercial centres with a view to reducing travel times, vehicle maintenance costs, safety and security of commuters etc."

The Deputy Governor of Ekiti State Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi who represented the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr.John Kayode Fayemi said, " We thank God that the job has been completed after 40years . We thank Buhari for attending to the calls of the people and the contractor has done a good job."

The Senator representing Ekiti Central Senatorial District, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele remarked " I will say on behalf  of the Senate Committee on Works that the Contractor has passed oversight test and the contractor must  also  ensure that all safety measures on the road including adequate road signage and lane markings should be engraved on the road. I congratulate Federal Government and those involved in the project."

The  Chairman of Efon Local Government Area Ekiti State, Engineer Bode Adetunji expressed  joy over the completed and commissioned road. He  remarked, " Efon is a  town for over forty years that has no outlet,  but now we have a road linking us to the outside world. We thank the contractor for a good job , Minister of Works and Housing and President Buhari for the project."

His Royal Highness Obalufon Alayemore , Oba Dr. Emmanuel Adesanya Aladejare Agunsoye II , the Alaaye of Efon Alaaye said, "Onbehalf of the community and the people involved in the road rehabilitation,  I say thank you to the Federal Government. We want the Government to continue to maintain the road so that we can enjoy the road for a long time."

His Royal Highness Awaraja of Iwaraja Ijesa Oba Sunday Ibironke , Samoyekon I remarked, " I just want to commend the Controller and  the Minister , the job is  wonderful and good. "

The Managing Director of Kopek Construction Limited, Engr Issam Feghali  that handled the project commented,  "There was no road in Efon Alaaye before the construction started, moreso the topography but we have achieved alot . We appreciate the efforts of the people for their cooperation and better funding from Federal Ministry of Works and Housing under H.E Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN."
The Head of Market Association in Efon Alaaye,  Chief ( Mrs). Gbadamosi Olayemi, said, " We are happy with the road , goods and people can move into Efon, with the road we can now get to Ilesha and Ife in no time."

The Unit Chairman  Efon Alaaye Motor Transport Union , Emmanuel Sere Ogun have this to say, " The road has become the fastest route for commuters and we don't spend much money on vehicle repairs anymore."

Senior Motor Mechanic in the area ,Mr. Adedeji Adewale expressed his satisfaction with the project, " The beauty and aesthetics of the town has been greatly improved with the new road and the harrowing of 15years going through rough road is over."

One of the leading farmers in Efon Alaaye,  Timothy Agbalajobi said, " We are happy with the handing over , God bless Fashola and Federal Government. We no longer have problems moving our produce from farms to town. Issues of breakdown of vehicles with our produce getting  delayed is over."

SPEECH BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI AT THE COMPLETION AND HANDOVER OF ISOKO RING ROAD IN DELTA STATE ON TUESDAY, 21st JUNE, 2022

On behalf of the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari, I bring best wishes to the Government and people of Delta State.

Our commitment to improving road transport infrastructure, our determination to improve the ease of doing business,create jobs and prosperity to lift people out of poverty brings us here today because the results of our investment are manifesting.

I can confidently say that as we enter the final lap of the tenure of the Buhari administration we are also entering a season of completion and delivery of projects.

As you can all see, we are handing over today the 7.85 Kilometre Road, which links Aviara-Uzere in Delta State. A very important Road that connects agrarian and fishing communities to ease the movement of their farm products.

By linking these communities together, this road becomes a critical component of our national road network.

This road has been built to the highest quality of design and workmanship and if is well used and not abused, it should last for the designed service life.

Road abuse takes many forms such as overloading of vehicles and trucks which accelerates pavement damage, spilling of petroleum products, which dissolves all the components and allows water to penetrate, and converting the road shoulders to permanent parking places, that brings the onset of road failure from the shoulder.

We must all do our best to avoid these practices, report them when they occur and act in a lawful manner to stop them.

The road is also a story of the capacity of our people. The patriotic Nigerians who were employed directly to build this road, the scores of suppliers employed indirectly who are responsible for providing the machines utilized in the construction.

These are not only nation builders to whom we offer our salutations, they are the heart of the Nigerian economy, the micro, small and medium enterprises that drive our economic growth.

This road is also a statement of economic efficiency and ease of doing business.

This is because the travel time before construction has now reduced since the completion of the road.

Of course, this road is part of our many roads to prosperity because reduced journey times means reduced expense on travel, because time is money.

This road also symbolizes change as you will observe in the road furniture, such as the lane markings and Route Assurance signs.

These components had all but disappeared on our highways but our commitment to change has restored them, with the markings helping drivers to achieve better lane management and control of their vehicles; while the Route Assurance signs provide information about how much further or longer, the drivers and commuters have to travel and the distance to the next village, town or state.

Of course, another element of change is the travel experience on a new and well-built road from the old and previously unmotorable road.

Now that we have this new and well-built road, we have duties to ourselves and to other road users.

One of those duties is to ensure that we drive in accordance with the law as stipulated in the Highway Code.
Accordingly, for the avoidance of any doubt, I wish to reiterate that the maximum driving speed on this and other Federal Highways nationwide is 100 (ONE HUNDRED) KM PER HOUR and no more.

On behalf of the Federal Government and President Muhammadu Buhari, I formally declare this Isoko Ring Road in Delta State completed and open for public use. 

For your safety and that of other road users, I implore you not to exceed 100 KM PER HOUR. 

We want you alive to witness and be part of the prosperity and promise of Nigeria. 

I wish you safe and happy motoring.

Festus Keyamo, SAN
Honourable Minister of Labour and Employment