Ekehuan road is not an abandoned project – Tunde Tee Olatunji

I have received phone calls, text messages, DMs and WhatsApp messages about people wanting to know the status/update for the Ekehuan Road construction. It’s important to separate facts from propaganda. Here are the facts:

1. The contract for the dualisation of Ekehuan Road was awarded late 2019.
2. Upon the contract being awarded, the contractor said the project will take 2 years to completion.
3. Covid came and crashed everything and took one year, 2020, off the stipulated time. That wasn’t peculiar to Edo state. It was worldwide.
4. After Covid, construction resumed late 2021.
5. Late last year/early this year, inflation happened and prices of building materials started to soar.
6. The contractors wanted their contract reviewed, to reflect the inflation difference.
7. Their contracts were swiftly reviewed and approved by the Governor.
8. Work resumed up until the heavy rain started.
9. Currently, according to the Commissioner for Roads & Bridges, Engineer Newton, Ekehuan road is 67.9% complete.0
10. Due to the heavy downpour of rain, work has slowed down on the road, but not after preparing a makeshift path for the people of Ekehuan.
11. The Commissioner for Roads & Bridges, Engineer Newton, together with senior members of the Minstry of Roads & Bridges, held a town hall with members of EVERY community in Ekehuan axis.
12. The Honourable Commissioner explained, in great details, the challenges they’re currently facing due to the heavy downpour. An understanding was reached with the members of the communities.
13. The new completion date for the project is set at April 2024, which fits into the pre-determined 2year period for the completion of the road.