Update: Massive protest rocks Ita-amo,Oloje communities over abandoned road project by KWSG

Oloje and Ita-amo communities members on Wednesday took their grievances to the street over the road abandoned project in their areas.

They said Governor Abdulrahmam Abdulrazaq has failed to fulfill his promised to complete the road and the deplorabe state of the road has caused series of accidents and inflicted untold hardship on the residents in the community.

It would be recalled that the Yebumot-Adeta, Adeta-Oloje road project was approved in 2021

The Wednesday protest was led by 70-year-old Mallam AbdulRaheem Saidi.

Speaking during the protest, Yusuf Ibrahim, representing the Oloje community, narrated how the abandoned road project has severely affected local businesses.

He said the government had initially pledged to complete the project within 11 months, but almost 24 months have elapsed without any signs of completion.

“The Yebumot -Adeta road has been completed and left Adeta -Oloje for almost one year without completion.”

He implored the Governor to intervene and instruct the contractor to go back to site.

Mallam AbdulRaheem Saidi, the protest leader, stressed the havoc caused by the uncompleted road project to residents and commuters.

He pointed out that the government failed to uphold its promise of completing the road by 2022.

“Gov AbdulRazaq should demonstrate empathy towards our communities as we members of the communities are suffering.”

Also speaking, Ahmed Sikiru, the representative of the Ita-amo community, expressed surprise that the governor, who hails from their community, allowed the abandonment of a vital road project in their vicinity.

“Shops and houses demolished to make way for the construction, but the anticipated development has not materialized, leaving us in dire need of government intervention.

Another community member,Mariam AbdulRasaq, whose shop was among those demolished for the road, shared her disillusionment.

“The uncompleted road project had adversely affected my personal life. The consequences of the incomplete road project have extended beyond economic concerns.” She stated.

Ajadi AbdulSalam, a resident, said the abandoned road project directly affected him, as his father’s house was demolished which caused his mother emotional trauma.

“ I appealed to the government for assistance in alleviating this distress by promptly completing the road project.”

In 2021,the Kwara State government approved the dualisation of the Yebumot Al -Hikma University-Adeta Roundabout-Oloje road in Ilorin, to ease traffic gridlock in the state capital.

The approval was given at the week’s meeting of the State Executive Council(SEC).

When completed, the road will serve as an industrial layout by connecting Asa Dam- Western Reservoir dual carriageway with Kaiama road at Oloje, Ilorin, thereby shortening travel time.

Briefing newsmen at the end of the SEC meeting, the then commissioner for communications, Hon. Abosede Buraimoh, said the contract, which is to be completed in 10 months, was awarded at the cost of N1.6bn to JMK Construction after a bidding process.

She said SEC also approved the award for phase one upgrade of Gbugbu market in Edu local government area of the state at the cost of N442.9m after a bidding process.

“This is to further boost economic activities of the state through the market which attracts international traders and investors from neighbouring countries and all parts of Nigeria,” the commissioner added

In our duty to balance the report and to get the government reaction, National pilot visited the Kwara state ministry of Works and Transport on Wednesday but did not meet the permanent Secretary,Olokooba Yinka in office.

A call was put through to his phone and he told our reporter that he was at the Governor’s office and asked our reporter to see him tomorrow.

” I’m at Governor’s office. I don’t know when I will leave that place and can’t talk on phone. Let see face to face and talk tomorrow. ” Permanent Secretary Olokooba said.