Oyo State Governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, on Wednesday, flagged off the construction of the N1.05 billion fly-over across the Idi-Ape-Basorun-Akobo road, Ibadan, declaring that the state was saving about N400 million from the failed contract awarded by the immediate past administration in the state.
Governor Makinde, who spoke at the brief flag-off ceremony at the foot of the overhead bridge, said that the state government would put machinery in motion to recover the outstanding funds, which, he said, the previous contractor collected but didn’t work for.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, explained that the governor, while speaking at the event held at the IDC Primary School, Basorun, Ibadan, said the flyover was vital to the socio-economic growth of the state.
The governor said the construction of the project will curb the menace of gridlock that usually characterised vehicular movement on the road.
He disclosed that the 65-metre fly-over was contracted to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited “for a completion period of six months through the Alternative Project Funding Approach.”
He equally charged the people of Idi-Ape-Basorun/Akobo areas to monitor the progress of the construction work and report any observation about the contractor’s performance to the government for necessary action.
According to Governor Makinde, the contractor would finance the project up to 20 per cent completion stage before the government would start paying on instalment basis for 12 months.
He also stated that his administration would continue to embark on projects that would enhance the economic development of the state.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Public Works, Infrastructure and Transport, Prof. Dahud Sangodoyin, had told journalists at the Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, that the State Executive Council had approved the construction of the flyover.
“So, yesterday (Tuesday), we looked at the cost of the contract, which was N1.464 billion in 2017, and the contractor that had worked on it exhibited slow performance, therefore, it was terminated. The state government had paid N368 million for the bridge works.
“Now, this new contract, which we are re-awarding to Peculiar Ultimate Concerns will cost about N1.058b and the difference is close to about N400million, which our government has actually saved.”
While also briefing the media on Wednesday, the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, confirmed the decision of the state government to upgrade the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, Oyo, to a University of Education.
He said that the decision was in line with the commitment of the administration to transform the education sector of the state to attain global standards.
He said of the State Executive Council meeting held on Tuesday approved “upgrading the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education to a University of Education.
“The whole essence of this is for us to deal with teachers and the problem of education from the baseline by producing competent educators and teachers with requisite pedagogical skills.
“The school, in recent years, has been running an affiliated degree programme with another university and we realized that the students in that programme actually outnumbered even the NCE students that represent the core mandate of the school. “So, the school as it is today, with the infrastructure, materials, and skill of the educators there, can actually take off as a university.
“We also realised that the students, nowadays, prefer to have a degree than just NCE. So, with the location of the school, the presence of the Federal College of Education in Oyo and the College of Education at Lanlate, we believe the school has sources for students that can take the degree programme. It can stand, and based on that, the cabinet approved the upgrading of the school.
“Now, we will take steps to apply to the relevant authorities for upgrading any moment from now.”
