Engineer ‘Seyi Makinde’s government in Oyo State, Wednesday, approved the award of the contract for the dualisation of the Ibadan Airport Road and some link roads at the cost N4.9 billion.
The Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Dawud Shangodoyin, who made this announcement, while briefing journalists after the executive council meeting held at the Oyo State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, said that the construction, which will be completed through direct funding will be completed in six months.
A statement by Mr. Taiwo Adisa, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde, indicated that the roads were awarded to assist the economic expansion agenda of the state, adding that they will impact on the ease of doing business as well as movement of goods, services and people around that axis.
The statement maintained that the scope of the project is about 10.8 kilometres, with a service link by the Iwo Road Bus Terminal, a 3.2 kilometre stretch of Ibadan Airport Road, a 194.5-metre access road in that axis and the 2.0 kilometres Oludare-Bishop Philips road all included in the approval.
Also included is an extension of the road connecting the Iwo Road Interchange to Adegbayi road by 400 metres.
The commissioner said: “This afternoon, we approved the awards of the dualisation of Ibadan Airport Road, which is 3.2km and the adjoining access road around that axis, which is about 194.5 metres including the road from Oludare to Bishop Philips, which is 2.0km.
“These roads will actually assist in the expansion of our economy and ease of doing business as well as movement of goods, services and people around that end.
“Before now, the Federal Government had awarded the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesha road to Messrs KOPEk. So, we used the opportunity to also award the same dualisation of Ibadan Airport Road to the same construction company at the value of N4.9 billion.
“In totality, the work scope for this is about 10.8 kilometres including the service link, which is by the Iwo Road bus terminal.
“Also, there will be an extension of the Ibadan Iwo Road interchange to Adegbayi road by 400 metres left and right of the 7.3 metres carriageway.
“So, this means that apart from the 10.3 metres for the standard federal road going from Iwo Road interchange, we will, also, at that end, where we have the bus terminals, have an extension of 400 metres to Ife with a scope of 7.3 metres. So, it is going to be a wide place for our vehicular movement.
“The duration of the project is six months and the funding is direct payment. “Remember that we have had the opportunity to get a loan of N50 billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria. We are using part of that to upgrade the Airport and all other adjoining roads.”
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
