The Oke-Oyi citizens in Yagba East Local Government Area of Kogi State have appealed to Governor Yahaya Bello to probe the circumstances surrounding the suspension of works on Ijowa-Ejuku-Jege-Ife-Olukotun road project.
North Central Trust reports that work on the affected road was flagged off during the first tenure of this administration with contractors mobilised to site for asphalting procedures and construction work.
However, the stakeholders in an open letter signed by Fanisi Temitope Babatunde alleged that the contractor vanished from site after less than three kilometres of asphalt works.
The letter said with the development, the road, which is the major access way to the zone from Isanlu, is in a sorry and terrible state as it takes thrice longer than expected and collosal damage to vehicles to get to the axis.
“It is instructive to note that farmers, artisans and traders rely solely on this road to travel down from the Oke-Oyi Axis down to Isanlu where lies a bigger market to buy goods in wholesale while farmers also depend on this route to transport their farm produce to consumers at an improved price.
“Seeing this road in the terrible condition calls for great concern especially after it failed following the shoddy job during the administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris,” they noted.
They said the road has been made passable in the past through palliatives by individuals from the areas and private organisations, who undertook various aspects of repairs.
“This Ijowa-Ejuku-Jege-Ife-Olukotun road is the major road link between some parts of Kogi State to Ekiti, and happens to be the most important road in Yagba east LGA as it serves over 10 autonomous communities with respected traditional kingdoms.
“The reconstruction and asphalting of this road will further galvanise and hasten the speed of development of the zone and further reduce the burden of stemming down poverty solely on the shoulder of the government as more businesses will spring up, rural markets will be expanded while farmers can access larger markets to sell their farm produce at improved and competitive prices,” it added.
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