Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State announced that it has fired the contractor handling the Ibadan Circular Road over what he described as the ‘unsatisfactory slow pace of work’ on the project.
Governor Makinde stated however that his administration would complete the 32-kilometre stretch, the first phase of the road, before the end of his tenure on May 28, 2023.
The governor gave the assurance during a tour of the project, explaining that his administration sacked the contractor due to the slow pace of work.
He gave the assurance that the contractor, ENL Consortium Construction Company, would be paid for the work done.
Governor Makinde, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Taiwo Adisa, said the contractor would not be able to deliver the road in another 20 years, if allowed to continue at the slow pace.
The statement added that during the on-the-spot assessment of the road by the governor, only two kilometres of the 32-kilometre stretch had been tarred at the level of wearing cost by ENL Consortium Construction Company.
He said, “We have terminated the initial arrangement. This is the road that we think will change the economy of Oyo State substantially. But the previous contractor, if we had continue with their pace, maybe they may finish in another 20 years.”
According to him, the government has been asking the contractor to do joint valuation because his administration does not want to destroy anyone’s business, adding that the administration would ensure that the contractor is reimbursed when the evaluation is completed.
“Now, we are asking them to do joint valuation because we are not here to destroy anyone’s business. Of course, money has been spent and we have to ensure that whatever has been put into to this, we will reimburse the previous contractor.
“So, we have an appreciation of what we need to do to ensure that this kicks off almost immediately and then it can meet our target,” be said.
Governor Makinde said that his administration would ensure that the road is completed and delivered within his tenure, stressing that government would have some involvement in the completion.
He said, “This 32km portion must be delivered within this first tenure of this administration. We are still going to concession it, because the previous administration left it 100 per cent to the concessionaire, which we thought was a mistake.
“We definitely will have some form of involvement of the Oyo State Government with a new concessionaire. We will take certain percentage for the state government and, that way, the government is carried along every step of the way.”
While speaking on the Old Ife/Airport/Sawmill Road, the governor said the contractor had just revised his schedule and that the job would be completed in October 2021.
He said his government would continually inspect and push contractors hard on infrastructure projects, noting,
“They (the contractors) just revised their schedule and that job should be completed and delivered by October of this year. So, we will stay on their back and ensure it is delivered as scheduled.”
