Ekiti State governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has cited the unwavering support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government for his ability to sustain the massive infrastructure upgrade going on in different parts of the state.
Governor Oyebanji, who disclosed this in Ado-Ekiti at the conclusion of his 3-day inspection of road projects across the state, said the surge in infrastructural development across the state was as a result of additional money the state was receiving from the Federal Government under President Tinubu’s current economic policy.
Oyebanji said his government had been able to take care of all basic responsibilities to citizens and workers as well as take care of its obligations to contractors leading to a remarkable number of projects at different level of completion across the state.
This, he said, was made possible because of the additional funding.
No fewer than 25 on-going road projects were inspected during the 3-day project monitoring.
The project’s included the Okeyinmi Fly-over Bridge; Ado-Ekiti Ring Road; Igede- Ilawe Road; Erijinyan-Ilawe Road; Ikogosi – Igbara-Odo Road; Ikere – Igbara-Odo Road; Ado – Akure Road; Ikere – Ise-Emure Road; Ikere-Ado Road, Ikere –Ilawe road; GRA road dualisation and GRA 3rd extension road.
Others were Omisanjana-Alasia-Deeper Life-Atlas road; Agric Olope-Moferere Road; Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki road; Hospital Management Board road; Jimoh Aliu Road; Isinbode-Ara-Ikole Road; Ikole township road; Itapa-Ijelu-Omu road; Ijero township road; Ayegunle-Ijurin-Iloro/Ipoti-Ilukuno road.
Governor Oyebanji, in a brief encounter with residents during the inspection, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for his continuous support to the state.
“For all these projects, we should thank God, and we should thank the President who is supporting us in Ekiti. If you will remember, when he came here to campaign, he told Ekiti people that I am his son and he will help me. The President stands by me and he’s helping me, I can’t lie.
“All the money we are spending on these projects is as a result of the additional money we got from the federal government which was made possible by the President, who took the bull by the horn, effected some economic changes that resulted in more money for the state. If not, where would we have gotten the money to do all these projects?”, he retorted.
The governor, who called on the people to show understanding for the President’s programmes and policies, said President Tinubu was fully prepared for the task of taking Nigeria to the promised land, adding, however, that the current hardship could be described as necessary pangs that usually precede child delivery.
“The president is courageous and he is on top of the situation. He needs our prayers and support and I am sure we shall all smile at the end of the day because the policies are well intentioned”, he added.
Speaking on his observation on quality of work done on the roads, Governor Oyebanji said he was satisfied with the pace and quality of work done by the contractors, adding that most of them were working towards the set deadlines.
The governor said he was particularly happy to note that that people in different communities had taken ownership of the projects in their communities, a development he said was in line with the administration’s development agenda.
Oyebanji said the inspection was to ensure that the contractors adhered strictly to the terms of their contracts, so that the people could have value for their money, adding that the huge volume of projects being undertaken simultaneously would not in any way affect government’s unwavering commitment to regular payment of salaries of workers, pensions and other obligations.
“I am satisfied with the quality of work. I have not seen any contractor that has not done well. So, I am really happy with the level of work done with the commitment and with the communal ownership of the projects by the people”, he said.
