As plans are in top gear to commence the dualisation of the 7.8kilometer Hospital/Ijoka road, the state government has held a meeting with the people of the area.
The state's Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Rt. Hon. Taofiq Abdusallam led government's team to the meeting while the city's traditional ruler, the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladelusi Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo and his High Chiefs also led the people in Akure to the meeting held at the city's town hall. The Commissioner said the purpose of the meeting was to inform the people about the dualisation of the road and to seek their cooperation so as to ensure success.
He noted that the road is too narrow considering the upsurge in the number of people plying it, hence the reason for the dualisation. He added that plans have been concluded, but government cannot start work without informing them.
He appealed to the people to cooperate with the government to ensure the success of all developmental projects embarked upon by the current administration in the state.
"We are here to let them know that government is ready. By the time the contractors move to the site, they will believe, because rumour is being spread around that the government is not ready for the dualisation. That is why we have to let them know that many buildings have been marked and numbered, while government will pay them compensations when valuation has been done.
"We have been on air and in the newspapers to let everyone know that government has not assigned anybody to be middle man, government will deal directly with the owners and negotiate with them about the value of their property. They can also use their valuers and we will compare the two.
"In case there is a family property, they should appoint one person as a representative with a letter, so that there will not be any fight", he explained.
According to him, the dualisation will commence as soon as government completes all the preliminary processes, noting that the survey had been done, the markings, the peg had been done and the next line of action is to write the owners of the property and do the valuation.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure, Engr. Raimi Olayiwola noted that although under the law, only property with Certificate of Occupancy is to be recognized, the current administration is magnanimous to overlook that and compensate all owners of affected property.
To avert accident during the dualisation, Raimi disclosed that the road will be constructed lane by lane and in segments due to the volume of people on the road.
The SA noted that dualising the road will reduce accident rate, the rate at which vehicles are damaged, enhance the productivity of workers, and will also reduce urban drift.
He appealed to the Deji and the Chiefs to talk to their people to cooperate with the government and handle government's property as theirs while expressing dissatisfaction on the damage done to the street lights on Oba Adesida road.
In his address, Oba Aladelusi commended the current administration for all the developmental projects executed within one year in office, including the prompt payment of salaries.
"We will keep on appreciating Arakunrin, our amiable governor before one year, he has started implementing laudable projects, apart from beautification. If you go to Ijoka, the place has been terribly congested, so when the government dualise it, it's going to add more value and flexibility to the area ", he said.
Other dignitaries at the meeting included, Secretary to the State government, Hon. Ifedayo Abegunde, Commissioner for Land and Housing, Mr Donald Ojogo, Special Adviser to the governor on Public Utilities, Engr Tunji-Light Ariyomo, Surveyor-General of the state , Surveyor Folahanmi, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Engr Alex Aragbaye, his counterpart in Works and Infrastructure, Engr Taiwo Otun, and High Chiefs in Akure land including the Olus and prominent sons and daughters of Akure.
