The intervention of Chief Afe Babalola(SAN) has halted the planned disruption of a road construction project in Ado Ekiti.
Residents of Ado Ekiti had planned to protest the alleged interruption of their livelihoods by the construction company handling the Ureje bridge along Ado-Ijan-Ikare road on Saturday.
The restive residents, including drivers, Okada riders plying the route, market men and women had planned to revolt against the contractor handling the project, over total closure of the road since the project began a week ago.
A section of the bridge had last year collapsed during a flood, which caused the death of a man while some property in the area were also damaged.
Addressing the contractor and members of the community at the bridge yesterday, Babalola urged the residents to endure the pains in the interest of the generality of the people.
Also present at the briefing were the Deputy Governor, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi and the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe.
Babalola, however, noted that the project and the closure of Ado-Ijan-Ikare road had also disrupted the day-to-day activity of the Afe Babalola University(ABUAD) and the Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, among others.
He said: “This road was constructed over 90 years ago, it was a very narrow road. It is the only road that links Lagos to Lokoja and Abuja. It was constructed by the Royal Niger Company. But unfortunately, it has been neglected ever since.
“Since I started my university 11 years ago, I have been maintaining it. I have written several petitions to FG. I thought they would do the repairs during the dry season. Now, ABUAD community and many other areas of Ado Ekiti have been cut off.
“There are two alternatives, it is either they divide the bridge and let one section be used or the contractor should grade the road àt Igirigiri along Ado Local government as an alternative route so that the people will not suffer”.
Babalola alleged that Ekiti is the most neglected state in Nigeria, with no visible federal owned infrastructure that can boost its economy.
“If you look around, no seaport, no rail lines and the roads are just too bad. Ikare- Ado, Ado- Otun, Ado -Efon, Ado-Akure roads are all in bad shapes. I don’t know the crime we have committed to warrant this neglect.
“Some people came to report to me that they will disrupt this project and open up the road forcefully. But I beg the road users to endure this situation. But if the contractor fails to do the right thing, then we will take them up”, he stated.
Also speaking, the Deputy Governor, Chief Egbeyemi, directed the contractor to quickly provide an alternative road to prevent the people from venting their anger on the project.
“I have interrogated them(contractor) and asked them to provide an alternative road. They said they have identified Igirigiri road and I have instructed them to grade the road, this road can’t be blocked without an alternative, because it is a major commercial route.
“We have university and polytechnic along this route. Though, they said the road will be opened for use in six weeks. I know that if they do what they are doing sufficiently, then we will have no problem at the end. The best remains that they should look for alternative routes and make it passable. Over 800 cars were stuck on the alternative road yesterday and that is not acceptable to us”.
The Federal Controller of Works in Ekiti, Engr Isiaq Lawal said it was never the intention of the Federal Ministry of Works to inconvenience anybody, urging the populace to cooperate with them for the success of the project.
“A structure of this nature requires 28 days to get its strength and it is the national and international standard. We are pleading for understanding so that we can get out of the problem we are encountering. What will be the FG’s interest to inconvenience anyone?
