The Ekiti government has commenced work on its proposed 1,000km rural road projects.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the governor’s spokesman, Yinka Oyebode, on Wednesday.

According to the statement, the road project is carried out under the World Bank-assisted Rural Access and Agriculture Marketing Project (RAAMP) with counterpart funding from the state government.

“Under the project, a total of 1,000 kilometres of rural roads will be fixed to enhance easy transportation of farm produce to the markets. The rural road construction is in line with Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s plan to ensure that rural roads receive similar attention as roads in the urban areas.

“This is in order to enhance infrastructure upgrade in the rural areas, promote agricultural development and food security by linking farms to markets through good roads,” it stated.

The statement said the first phase of the project began with the advertisement of bids for 65.10km of backlog and rehabilitation intervention, covering several communities and farmsteads.

According to the advertised bid for the first 65.10 kilometres of backlog and rehabilitation, the roads for construction are Enu Odi-Itenu –Igirigiri Road (8.41km); Omisanjana-Ben Folarin- Oke Aso Road (5.70km); Ara-Oye Road (8.77km); Afolu-Odofin Road (1.95km); Ise-Imola Road (5.30km) and Owode Anaye Road (2.8km).

Other roads are Erinmope-Irare-Ikosun Road (6.68km); Iye-Isapa-Olopomeji- Ikun Road (5.10km); Ara-Ekameta Schol Road (2.05km); Igbole/Osin- Iropora Road (4.60km); Ilupeju-Igbo Egan Road (3.1km); FMS- Oke Ako Road (3.40km); and Ikosi-Aba Osun- Aba Oriokuta- Ikogosi Road (7.19km).

Other interventions coming up before the middle of the year include a 128-kilometre spot improvement intervention and the design of another 100-kilometre backlog/rehabilitation with another 40-kilometre upgrade intervention.

Governor Biodun Oyebanji hailed the commencement of the project as timely and urged communities and farmsteads that are not covered under the project’s first phase to be patient as they would be covered in subsequent phases.

He said this aligned with his administration’s Agriculture and Rural Development Agenda. 

(NAN)