Kogiflame
The Federal Government has been called upon to terminate the road contract it had earlier awarded to CGC for the construction of Kabba- Mopa- Isanlu- Egbe- Omuaran- Ilorin road, urged to concession it to Dangote Cement on a tax waiver arrangement.
The call for the termination of the contract and concesioning of the road to Dangote Cement was made by a former Federal Lawmaker, Hon. Sunday Karimi, who explained that though the contract for phases 1 and 2 of the roads have earlier been awarded to CGC in year 2014 and 2016 respectively, lamented that not much work was achieved on the road construction owing to lack of adequate funding through the annual budgeting process and lack of capacity.
Hon. Karimi called on the federal government to terminate the existing contract with CGC through a mutual agreement, urged to enter into agreement with Dangote for the reconstruction of the road using the same method as was done to the Obajana – kabba road.
The Lawmaker hinged his argument on the plights and sufferings faced by motorists on the road which he described unbearable, added too that CGC has shown lack of capacity to the contract, while Dangote Cement trailers, major beneficiaries and users of the roads, are also the one destroying the roads, asked that they should be made to repair the road.
The former Lawmaker accused Dangote cement of being the major users of the Kabba- Mopa- Isanlu- Egbe- Omuaran- Ilorin road, yet pay nothing for the daily wear and tear it causes to the road.
Presently Hon. Karimi explained that Palliative work as funded by some good spirited individuals is on going on the Kabba- Mopa- Isanlu- Egbe- Omuaran- Ilorin road, described it as a shame that Dangote Cement trucks are now to be seen in droves and back on the road lately because of the recent palliative works embarked upon.
Hon. Karimi who represented Yagba Federal Constituency between 2011 and 2019 lamented that at a time, the Kabba- Mopa- Isanlu- Egbe- Omuaran- Ilorin road was listed under the phase two of the Sukuk funded road Project to be constructed in the country, expressed worry that till date, the road has not experience any work on it with the year coming to an end.
According to Hon. Karimi, the people of the State couldn’t hide their joy when President Mohammadu Buhari in his 2020 budget presentation at the floor of the National Assembly specifically mentioned that emphasis would be placed on the Rehabilitation of Kabba- Mopa- Isanlu- Egbe- Omuaran- Ilorin road, expressed disappointment that till date, no construction work has taken place on the road by the contractor.
The former Lawmaker described the excuse given by CGC for its non return to site as due to the non payment of certified works it has carried out earlier and is yet to be paid as reason they can not go back to site as unacceptable.
The former Lawmaker called for a termination of the CGC contract by the Federal Government, wants it awarded to Dangote Cement on a Concession basis, using tax waiver as the people of are going through untold hardship.
According to Hon. Karimi, there is frustration all over the face of the users of this important road that links South West to the North.
