The lawmaker representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency II, in the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Bamisile, has appealed to the federal government to quickly begin the reconstruction of the dilapidated Ado-Ijan- Ikare Highway to open Ekiti to a new vista of economic opportunities.
Bamisile, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Delegated Legislation, said the decrepit state of the busiest federal road in Ekiti was affecting business negatively and impeding the full realization of the agricultural potential of the axis known to be artery of plantation farming in the state.
Bamisile gave the appeal, in a statement released through his Media Office in Abuja and made available to journalists in Ado Ekiti on Monday.
The lawmaker considered it disheartening that works have not begun on the road after a year the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi visited the road and made promises that the reconstruction into a dual carriage way design will begin soon.
He said his constituents in Gbonyin Local Government, one of the three councils in the Federal Constituency he represents, who are predominantly farmers are badly affected by the deplorable road through difficulty in transporting their products to the market centres.
Bamisile said several people have been kidnapped at the bad portions of the road at Imesi, Agbado, and Ijan Ekiti, which he described as dangerous and inimical to the peaceful existence of the populace.
The lawmaker praised Governor Biodun Oyebanji for not backing down in his efforts to attract federal presence to Ekiti through constant rapprochments with the Ministry of Works and other pivotal agencies.
“I know that Governor Oyebanji was making efforts and this reflected in his recent and constant visits to federal government agencies to attract federal government projects to our dear state.
“But I am particularly concerned about the state of the Ado-Ikare road. The dualisation project had been awarded to contractor and I expect that works would have begun by now. This delay is making my constituents in Gbonyin Local Government to be apprehensive.
“They find this concerning in two ways: the deplorable state of the road has increased criminal activity like kidnapping in some towns. Again, the area known to be cocoa, kolanut and Yam belt is not being fully tapped because of transportation problem and farmers are losing millions to this difficulty.
“I appeal to the federal government to expedite action on this reconstruction that I believe will add value to economic growth of our nation and our dear Ekiti state”.
