With N19.2 billion and good effort between Ondo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), it would take less than 30 minutes to drive from Ondo to Lagos on a 50-kilometre stretch.
This will be made possible as Ondo State government and the NDDC have jointly flagged off the construction of the N19.2 billion Araromi-Akodo/Ibeju-Lekki Road, connecting Ondo and Lagos states.
Speaking at the ceremony to mark the commencement of work on the 50-kilometre road at the Araromi Seaside, Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State, Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu described the event as “epoch-making and indescribable.”
Governor Akeredolu said: “This is the project for us. To link our state almost seamlessly to Lagos is the big deal. It has been our vision and we thank God that it is now being realised.”
Akeredolu expressed optimism that the project would be delivered before the expiration of the tenure of the current NDDC Board, thanking the Commission for partnering his administration to provide good governance to the people.
In his remarks, the chairman of the NDDC board, Victor Ndoma-Egba, said the Commission was focusing on projects that would truly integrate the Niger Delta region. Ndoma-Egba, therefore, urged all the governors in the region to emulate their Ondo State counterpart in collaborating with the NDDC.
He said people should discard the notion that NDDC projects were hardly completed; assuring that the Ondo regional road project would be executed faithfully. He also assured that the Omotosho-Okitipupa electrification project would be completed soon.
In his speech at the occasion, the NDDC managing director, Nsima Ekere, recalled that the Commission had on Tuesday, April 4, 2017, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Ondo State government to build the 50.918km road.
Ekere said: “The Araromi-Akodo/Ibeju-Lekki Road will connect the agricultural-rich communities of Araromi seaside – Igbo Erelu, Eba, Awodikora, Elefon, Ode-Omi, Imedu, Igboguna, Akodo in Ondo State with Ise in Ibeju – Lekki area of Lagos States.
“It is the first part of the very important coastal road project, which the Federal Government has conceived to link our coastal towns with a strategic road network. On completion, it will cut travel time between Ondo State and Lagos to less than one hour, and facilitate easy evacuation of agricultural produce from these communities.”
He explained that the main alignment from Irokun to Ise was 36.035km, with seven different spurs totalling 14.883km. He observed that because of the difficult terrain, it would cost a total of N19.274 billion at an average cost of N378.5 million per kilometre.
Under the current NDDC board, more attention would be focused on projects that would engender sustainable and comprehensive regional economic and social integration of the Niger Delta, he said.
He said: “Very shortly, the Commission will conclude and execute similar partnership projects with Edo and Delta State Governments for the construction of the Benin-Abraka Road and Omadino-Okerenkoko-Escravos Road. We are also looking to partner with the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, for the construction of the Abak-East-West Road.”
