Date: 2018-01-10

The Chairman, House Committee on works and Transport at the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon. Mathew Olaitan Babaoye has said that his committee would carry out "aggressive oversight" in the 2018 fiscal year.

This, according to him is to properly supervise and monitor every road project under construction in the state, with a view to ensure that they are done according to specifications.

Babaoye who represents Irepodun Constituency stated this while reacting to the recent reimbursement of N615 million the state expended on Kisi-Kaiama road by the Federal Government on Tuesday in Ilorin. On the Kisi-Kaiama road project, the legislator said that government recognised the significance and importance of the road which was the reason it has decided to reinvest the whole money received from the Federal Government on the project.

He said further that the state would be generating huge revenue from the international Gwaria market in Kaiama Local Government and as well encourage the farmers to bring out their farm produce from various localities.

While appreciating the people of Kaiama for their endurance and tolerance over the years on the state of the road, Babaoye noted that on several occasions, the road issue was deliberated on at the plenary with the contractor being summoned to explain various stages of the project.

The chairman disclosed that around September 2017, the state received about N300 million from the initial N500 million expended on the project but that the contractor said such fund would not cover a reasonable distance that would be visible for Kwarans.

"Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has directed that the whole N615 million should be given to the contractor to immediately commence work on the road. The modality is if he is able to cover about 7 kilometres, surface dress, do the drainage and asphalt overlay to keep the road and axis working, more certificate will be raised and the dry season advantage will be used optimally" , Babaoye disclosed.

The lawmaker further charged the contractor to immediately move to the site and begin work on the project upon receipt of the fund.