By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan.
Chairman,Senate Committee on Works, Senator Kabiru Gaya on Monday hinted that the Federal Government is determined to having goods roads linking the South from Lagos to Oyo and Kano with the other parts of the North.
Speaking at the flag off of the construction of N6billion Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works declared that as a way of ensuring this, there will be no room for any contractor again in the country to embark on shoddy road construction.
Senator Gaya maintained that any contractor found with shoddy road construction or failed to perform, will be brought to book as “there is no point that road should be bad again” in any part of Nigeria.
“We plan to have goods roads to link the South from Lagos to Oyo and Kano, including other parts of the Northern side of country. Any contractor that fail to perform will be brought to book. We won’t tolerate such shoddy works again”he said.
Commenting on the terrible condition of the Oyo/Ogbomoso expressway, Senator Gaya said the contractor handling the road construction must come and explain to the Senate Committee why the road was that bad.
“The Oyo axis of the road is bad now. I wonder why a newly constructed road would be in that shape. We’re calling on the company to come to the senate and Ministry of Works to come and explain to us why that road is in that state” he assured.
He disclosed that the Oyo/Ogbomoso road “is one of the cardinal project of the present administration and will be completed with the three years of President Buhari’s administration”.
Senator Gaya while summoning the contractor to the Senate in Abuja to explain why the road is in bad state few years after completion, charged “the contractor, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) to speed up and finish the project within the speculated time.
“I want you to work extra hard to achieve this because this is a very important road to Oyo State people and Nigeria. We will also put the old road into repair before the completion of this road.
“Oyo State Governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi while speaking said, the APC led government at all levels will continue to uphold the interest of the people while serving in government capacities.
“We must give profound gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and especially God, for letting this happen in our lifetime, knowing full well that good road network is a prerequisite for buoyant economy”he said.
Governor Ajimobi pointed out that the road when completed will lead to rapid economic development across the states in the country, saying, “this road project was mooted over thirty-six years ago and we have had six federal administrations that failed to complete it”.
“On behalf of the good people of Oyo State, I appreciate God, the APC and our Senators for this hope they have ignited in us through the resuscitation of this project. We believe that the contractor will work day and night to deliver a standard job in good time” he reiterated.
Managing Director of the construction company, RCC, represented by his deputy, Nader Yusuf, assured the Federal government of the quality job, adding that with over 60 years of working in Nigeria, the company is known for its quality delivery, promising that the current job will not be an exception.
