The Government of Oyo State, on Tuesday, announced it has re-awarded the contract for the construction of Saki Township Road at the cost of Four Billion, Seven Hundred and Ninety-Six Million Naira (N4,796,000,000,).
The contract was initially awarded at the cost of N8 billion by the immediate past administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi, but the work has been practically abandoned, leading to residents of the historic city and the traditional ruler, to make representations to Governor Seyi Makinde for a redemption of the stagnated project.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor had, during a visit to Saki where he commissioned the Saki Specialist Hospital, two weeks ago, terminated the contract due to what he called inconsistencies and underperformance by the contractor, promising that the project will be re-awarded within four weeks.
While briefing newsmen shortly after the Oyo State Executive Council meeting held at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, on Tuesday, the state’s Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said the contract for the road was re-awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd, under the Alternative Project Funding Approach, adding that it would be completed in 12 months.
“Today, the EXCO re-awarded the Saki township road. The contract has been re-awarded to Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Ltd for the sum of N4,796,000,000, under the Alternative Project Funding Approach. The contract will be completed within twelve months.
“As we know, the last administration awarded that contract for over N8 Billion, and above N3 Billion was paid but nothing much has been done on the job. It has even caused untold hardship to the people of Saki to the extent that the whole town complained that the contract should be re-awarded.
“Having examined the issue of the contract critically, the EXCO re-awarded it to another contractor that will complete it within twelve months.”