The Ekiti State Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) has awarded 13 rural road contracts worth #17,219,565,143.22 to seven contractors as parts of plans by the State Government to provide agricultural infrastructure aimed at making the State the food basket of the South West.

Speaking on Tuesday at the contract signing ceremony held in Ado Ekiti, the State Project Coordinator, Hon Sunday Adunmo said the project which is a dream come true is expected to be delivered within 18 months of award.

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The Project Coordinator who charged the seven contractors to live up to expectation by delivering quality work said Ekiti RAAMP would not “tolerate substandard work and will terminate contracts not meeting performance standards”.

Adunmo equally told the contractors to abide by the rules of engagement by hiring local employees to create employment opportunities and improve rural livelihood.

“Today’s event concludes the process that began earlier this year when we advertised Requests for Bids for 65.10km of rural roads for rehabilitation in national dailies. A pre-bid meeting in March this year ensured transparency and fairness in the selection process. After receiving 93 bids, we are pleased to announce that 7 bids were successful.”

“Let me use this opportunity to charge the successful bidders to live up to expectations and deliver quality work. Your selection was based on merit, not political patronage. RAAMP will not tolerate substandard work and will terminate contracts not meeting performance standards. The Project Monitoring Committee of RAAMP, relevant government agencies such as the Local Content Office, among others would visit your site to check your level of compliance with the agreement you are signing with us today”, Adunmo said.

While commending the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji for consistently providing counterpart fund for the project, the Project Coordinator stressed that the Governor’s commitment to the success of the project was evident in his several visits to the World Bank’s Nigeria office on the need to fast track the commencement of the project.

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Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr Ebenezer Boluwade reiterated the vision of the Oyebanji-led government to repositioning the agriculture sector in the State.

The Commissioner highlighted some of the steps taken by the state government to ensure that farmers get value for their labour while the State becomes food sufficient.

In their goodwill messages, the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Habibat Adubiaro, the Head of Service, Dr Folakemi Olomojobi and the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kolawole Ajobiewe charged the contractors to live up to expectations and ensure quick completion of the projects.

The State Commissioner for Information, Rt Hon. Taiwo Olatubosun who commended Governor Oyebanji for investing heavily in the development of the State said the newly awarded rural roads would add to no fewer than 25 other State roads which the Oyebanji-led government has undertaken within 18 months.

Olatubosun said the Governor is leaving no stone unrturned in ensuring that Ekiti State becomes the food hub for the southwestern part of the country having signed a multibillion naira memorandum of understanding with an investor in the agric sector a few weeks ago.

He added that he was not surprised that Ekiti State under Oyebanji’s watch has taken the lead in growth indices in various sectors.
Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Independent Project Monitoring, Hon Femi Ajayi told the contractor of the readiness of his office to regularly visit the project sites with a view to ensuring the roads are delivered as scheduled.

Speaking on behalf of the contractors, the Managing Director of Tundis Nigeria Limited, Mr Tunde Fagboyo assured that the contractors would ensure that the state government gets value for money by ensuring that the quality of job done on the projects is not compromised.

The awarded roads which are grouped into in 7 lots are Enu Odi-Igirigiri road, Omisanjana-Ben Folarin-Oke Aso road, Ise-Imola road, Owode-Anaye road, Afolu-Odofin road, Oye-Are road and Ilupeju-Igbo Egan road. Others are Iye-Isapa-Olopemeji-Ikun road, Erinmope-Irare-Ikosu road, Igbole-Egan-Osi-Iropora road, FMS Farm-Oke Ako road, Ikogosi-Aba-Ori Okuta-Ikogosi road and Ara-Ekameta school road.
The successful bidders: Messrs Dominant Engineering (Lot 1), Messrs Hallekem Limited (Lot 2), Messrs Millenium Technical Nigeria Limited (Lot 3), Messrs Tundis Nigeria Limited (Lot 4), Messrs Jadfem Nigeria Limited (Lot 5), Messrs HMF Construction Limited (Lot 6), and Messrs Heriprom Engineering Limited.

O’Seun Ogunsakin
Development Communication Officer
Ekiti RAAMP