By REPORTERS

Motorists plying Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti road have expressed concerns over the slow pace of construction on the corridor, citing frequent gridlock, damage to vehicles and a huge loss of man-hours.

They noted that the road is a crucial interstate economic route connecting communities between Kogi and Ekiti States.

Motorists who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti, lamented that passenger patronage had dropped sharply since construction began, stating that many commuters now take alternative routes to avoid delays.

They appealed to the Federal Government to prevail on the contractor handling the project to speed up work in order to ease vehicular difficulties, improve lives, and boost commercial and socio-economic activities in the area.

The respondents while expressing displeasure over the slow pace of work on the road, noted that the unpredictable global economic activities could be a hindrance towards the completion deadline.

The Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ekiti State Branch, Chief Omotayo Falope, said the road had been in a deplorable condition for a long time, and was causing severe damage to vehicles.

“The road has become a death trap and an avenue for criminals to operate freely. Because it is a federal road and a linkage between states, it is very critical for not only for human survival, and but the state prosperity too.

“Our appeal is for government to expedite action on its completion, and aside the Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti road, we are grateful to the government for the major work on Akure-Ikere-Ado-Ekiti and the Ifaki-Omuo which has been fixed to a commendable extent,” he said.

On his part, Mr Kehinde Afolabi, the Chairman, National Association of Cooperative Transporters (NACT), Ekiti Chapter, said before the administration of President Bola Tinubu, the Akure-Ikere-Ado-Ekiti road was a major issue, causing traffic gridlock, severe vehicle damage, and extended travel times for commuters due to its deplorable state.

“The difficulties becomes more compounded as most of our businessmen and women from Ado-Ekiti who desire to board flights at Akure Airport, have to use the road.

“Even, for farmers in Ekiti to move their produce to neighbouring Ondo State becomes problematic, but today the road has been fixed.

“Work on Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti has also commenced from the Ifaki-Omuo section and it is a good development for transport stakeholders in the state and beyond,” he said.

Also, the state Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) in Ekiti State, Chief Sunday Adeola, said the construction of the Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti road was long overdue due to its importance as a linkage for commercial and trading activities between the affected states.

Mr Sunday Adedeji, an Ado-Ekiti based commercial driver, said he had once escaped an armed robbery ambush on the road.

“If not for God and my expertise as a professional driver, I and my passengers would have been victims of armed robbery attack in one of my trips on the road due to it’s deplorable state.

“I thank God, I escaped. More importantly, I am very happy that the newly awarded construction contract is a major relief that will drastically cut down on recurring vehicle repair expenses and improve daily commute,” he said

The Federal Controller of Works in Ekiti State, Engr. Wasiu Owolabi, told NAN that the Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti road was 104 kilometres with the Ekiti section accounting for 63 kilometres from Omuo-Ekiti.

He disclosed that the road, due to its bad state, was first awarded to CCECC Nigeria Limited (China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation) at the cost of N9.99 billion.

“After the COVID-19 pandemic the company couldn’t go ahead with the inflated construction cost and it was terminated.

“The road was re-awarded to Gamji Construction Company in March, 2026 to cover the whole length of 104 kilometres into Kogi State from Ekiti at the cost of N25 billion.

“The company is yet to commence full construction work on the Omuo-Ekiti to Kabba section of the road as it awaits the release of funds.

“On its part, the company has fixed the bad portion from Ifaki-Ekiti to Omuo-Ekiti to make it motorable and allow farmers and traders move their produce and wares with ease.

“Part of the conditions the contract was awarded to Gamji in the first place was that the company gave it’s full assurance of having the capacity, resources and relevant equipment to execute the project. It is expected that they will move to site to commence work at least to a certain level.

“The company has fixed the portion from Ifaki-Ekiti to Omuo-Ekiti and now motorable but yet to commence work from Omuo-Ekiti end toward Kabba section,” he said.

Owolabi said other major roads that received Federal Government attention in the state include the Akure-Ikere-Ado-Ekiti road, Ado-Afe-Babalola-Ijan-Ilu-Omoba-Imesi-Ikare-Akoko road as well as Ado-Iyin-Igede-Aramoko-Itawure road.

Similarly, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, the state Commissioner for Information, described the Federal Government intervention on the roads as a “significant boost to the socio-economic growth of Ekiti State and the South-West region as a whole.

“The Kabba-Omuo-Ekiti road is a critical corridor connecting key parts of the country. The reconstruction will greatly improve movement, ease transportation challenges, and open up more opportunities for trade and commerce.

“This project goes beyond road construction; it is about improving lives, strengthening economic ties, and enhancing regional integration.” (NAN)

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