Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has flagged off the further extension of the dualisation of Ado-Ikere Road in Ikere-Ekiti with a promise to extend the project into the town’s roundabout before leaving office.
The governor, who stated this in Ikere-Ekiti, said the extension being undertaken now would be completed before the year runs out.
In a statement on Friday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, the governor also supervised the payment of compensation to people whose houses and structures were affected by the project.
Speaking on the occasion, the governor noted that it was unfortunate that where he left the project over 10 years ago during his first tenure was where he met it.
“I was the one who embarked on the dualisation of major roads linking the state capital, Ado-Ekiti with other towns and that included the Ado-Ikere Road. Before I came back and for about 10 years, no administration improved on the project.
“We are embarking on projects like this because it is better to use state money for the development of the state and her people. My mission is to make life easy for the people of the state and that is why we have to pay compensation before demolishing affected structures.
“We are bringing hope to the hopeless and doing the best for the development of our society. What we need is your support and cooperation. Don’t allow disgruntled elements to come and cause trouble in our communities.” he said.
Fayose gave the assurance that the project would be completed in a matter of months and that his administration would extend the road deep inside the town.
The landlords who were given compensation praised the governor for his determination to provide social amenities for the people despite the prevailing economic challenges.
One of them, Hon. Aluko Abayomi, said, “What the governor is doing is a sort of wonder when one takes note of the financial crunch in the country. He is still embarking on developmental projects. This is great. We appreciate his love for the people and his determination to leave the state better than he met it.”
In the same vein, Mrs Juliana Jolayemi, thanked the governor for the prompt payment of the compensation and prayed for the success of his administration