The Oyo State Government, yesterday, clarified how it arrived at the
new cost of the all-important Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin road, which links
the food basket of the state, Oke-Ogun.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde,
Taiwo Adisa, quoted the state’s Commissioner for Infrastructure, Works
and Transport, Prof Raphael Afonja, as stating that the new contract
was a clear departure from the rehabilitation contract given out at
the cost of N7 billion by the administration of the immediate past
Governor Abiola Ajimobi.
The statement indicated that the total reconstruction of the
65-kilometre Moniya-Ijaiye-Iseyin Road was arrived at taking into
consideration the extensive reviews of the components and the desire
to construct a road that would withstand the test of the huge traffic
on the road.
Afonja said that the cost of the new road, which is expected to be
completed in 12 to 14 months, stands at N9.9 billion.
He stated that the road belongs to Oyo State and that it links the
state capital with the food basket of the state, which also serves as
the solid mineral belt of the state.
“The contract to be executed by KOPEK Construction Company should be
of high quality, being the road linking the food basket of the state,”
the statement read.
He added that some of the components of the road reviewed by the state
executive council and which informed the increment in cost include the
design of the project, price fluctuation, asphaltic wearing cost and
adequate drainage system.
The statement quoted the Commissioner as saying: “Let me say this
quickly, Moniya-Iseyin road is not a federal road but a state road.
Oyo-Iseyin is the federal road. In terms of the amount, it is actually
N9,929,702,66, which is approximately N9.9bn. The question that may
arise is the initial award that was approximately N7bn.
“However, we have reviewed the design to make sure that the road that
will be constructed for this important food basket of the state has
high quality.
“We have made some changes including the design. We increased the
stone base core from 150mm to about 200mm. We also changed the
asphaltic wearing cost from 40mm to 50mm. We also realised there was
an inadequate provision for drainage system along that road in the
initial design but we have changed that to provide adequate drainage
system.
“Also, we considered the fluctuation basically in terms of pricing of
materials, bitumen for example. That was also factored into the new
pricing. Another thing is, the road will last for, at least, minimum
of 10 years.”
