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From Priscilla Ediare, Ado-Ekiti
The Project Coordinator, Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Ekiti State, Hon Sunday Adunmo, has said a total of N71,481,380 has been paid as compensation to farmers and other Project Affected Persons (PAPs) as RAAMP commences construction of rural roads in the state.
The Project Coordinator who disclosed this to newsmen in Ado-Ekiti, capital of the state, on Thursday,.said 217 farmers and other persons affected benefitted from the compensation.
Adunmo said,” N71,481,380 has been paid as compensation to 217 farmers and other persons affected in 12 of the 13 roads that RAAMP awarded in July, 2024.
“The 13 roads awarded for construction are, Edu Odi junction-Igirigiri road, Omisanjana-Ben Foalrin-Oke Aso road, Oye-Are road, Afolu-Odofin road, Ise -Imola road, Owode -Anaye road, Erinmope-Irare-Ikosu road, Iye-Isapa-Olopomeji road and Igbole-Osi-Iropora road.
“Others are, Ara-Ekameta school road, Ilupeju-Igbo Egan-Ayede road, FMS Farm-Oke Ako road, and Ikogosi-Aba Osun-Aba ori okuta road.
” The compensation was paid through bank transfer to the beneficiaries. The compensation was a critical component of the project as Project Affected Persons (PAPs)must be properly compensated before the commencement of civil works on the roads.”
He continued, “RAAMP has also commenced the construction of a new mosque at Afolu to replace the old mosque which would be demolished later to allow creation of safe thoroughfare on the new road.
“Site clearing had been completed on the 12 roads where compensation had been paid. There was a delay in the payment of compensation to farmers on Igbole-Egan-Osi-Iropora road following the need for revalidation of PAPs hence the inability of the contractor to commence bush clearing”
Adunmo who noted that progress report on the 13 roads showed different percentages of work done by each of the contractors,.hailed the contractors handling Oye-Are road and Ben Folarin-Omisanjana-Oke Aso road for their work pace which has gotten to concrete works.
He said that Oye-Are road can be completed within 12 months if the contractor continues work at that fast pace.
The Project Coordinator emphasized that there won’t be room for shoddy jobs as the ongoing construction works are being monitored by the Project Monitoring Committee and the various Agencies of Government in charge of project monitoring.
Adunmo revealed that all the contractors are employing both skilled and unskilled labour from the various project benefitting communities.
He added that the contractors have been mandated to procure construction materials that are available in the state in order to boost the economy of the state and prevent capital flight.
Adunmo who disclosed that more road projects would be awarded in a couple of weeks noted that the five pilot roads initiated by RAAMP in 2021 would be revisited for upgrading.
He said the five pilot roads for upgrade are, Itaji-Orisunmibare road, Iyin-Odo Oro-Aroto road, Ago Aduloju-Kajola road, Imesi-Kosomolate-Ipole road, and Ogotun-Alagbede road.
