Date Published: 09/28/09

Group chides Ekiti Agency over road maintenance

A Non Government Organisation, The Ekiti Patriots (TEP) has berated the Ekiti State Road Maintenance Agency (EKROMA) for its failure to execute the contract awarded to it for the rehabilitation of roads in Ado Ekiti, the State capital, describing the agency as an embarrassment to the Engr. Segun Oni-led government.

TEP said in a release signed by its Coordinator, Mr. Kayode Adekunle, and made available to journalists, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the State Government must investigate the non-execution of the Operation Fill the Potholes launched during the three months tenure of the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi.

“We wish to draw the attention of the good people of Ekiti State, the State Government and the EFCC to the non-execution of the N500 million contract awarded to the Ekiti State Road Maintenance Agency (EKROMA) for the rehabilitation of roads in Ado Ekiti, the State capital during the three months tenure of the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Tunji Odeyemi.

 “It is disheartening that more than six months after the contract was awarded and assurance given that all potholes on Ado township roads will disappear, the roads are still in very bad shape with no effort made to rehabilitate them.

“According to information available to us, a sum of N200 million was paid to the Yinka Akerele-led EKROMA as mobilisation fee for the job as part of the Operation Fill the Potholes programme launched by the Odeyemi-led government.

“However, instead of the roads being rehabilitated, EKROMA compounded the problems of Ado residents by expanding the potholes and creating gullies on the roads.

“It has therefore become pertinent that the State Government order a thorough investigation into this scam with a view to bringing those responsible for siphoning the fund released for the road rehabilitation to justice. It is our view that Governor Segun Oni, as an apostle of due process, transparency and accountability cannot continue to play ostrich to this monumental misappropriation of funds belonging to the generality of Ekiti people. Therefore, he should act now!

“On our part as a group that is committed to accountability and transparency in governance, we shall not hesitate to petition the EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies with a view to getting the contract scam investigated and those found culpable prosecuted accordingly,” the group said.