Mr Kayode Ibrahim, Oyo State Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, says the ministry is making frantic efforts at ensuring timely rehabilitation of Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa dual carriage way.
Ibrahim stated this on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.
He recalled that the Federal Executive Council had, in 2019, approved the reconstruction of the dual carriage way by Kopek Construction Company at the cost of N79 billion, adding that the contractor was preparing pre-cast elements to be used for the work.
“We are hopeful that with good funding, the full rehabilitation work would be completed within the stipulated time,” he said.
According to him, while the contractor is waiting to be fully mobilised, a serious washout is threatening to cut off the road at a section around Celica area in Ibadan.
“So the contractor went to that spot to put a new culvert and fill the embarkment, thereby halting the washout. The failed portion has now been put back to shape.
“You can now drive smoothly on that section of the road. But, the truth is that because the project is a full rehabilitation, you cannot be laying asphalt on that spot alone.
“Asphalt laying has to be done on the entire section so that it will not look like a patched work,” he explained.
Ibrahim admonished motorists, particularly owners and operators of articulated vehicles, to always ensure that their vehicles were in good working condition before embarking on any trip.
NAN reports that the admonition was sequel to the accident which occurred at the rehabilitated spot around Celica area of Ibadan on Monday, involving an articulated truck and a taxi cab, and which claimed five lives.
The controller refuted the claim that deplorable condition of the section of the road was responsible for the accident.
He said that the failed portion had since been fixed and that the point where the accident occurred was smooth and motorable.
Ibrahim explained that reports from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) showed that the accident was as a result of dangerous driving.
“We heard that the driver of the truck lost control due to break failure and rammed into a cab, with both ending up in a ditch,” he added.
The controller, however, sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
