Rainfall: Again, Motorists, Commuters, Residents Lament Stoppage of Works on Olorunsogo-Akanran Road
For the second time in about two months, residents alleged the contractor of dereliction of duty, just as they feared they might be subjected to another round of harrowing experiences this year especially that the rains are expected soon.
Reports say the federal government will on February 20th, 2024, release the annual Seasonal Climate Prediction (SCP), which offers diverse sectors climate and weather data to members of the public and various sectors of the economy including aviation, agriculture, construction, water resource management and healthcare.
Charles Anosike, the director general of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), made the announcement in Abuja, regarding the public release of the 2024 SCP
Over the years, the SCP provides vital information such as the onset and cessation dates of rainfall, rainfall amounts, length of the growing season, temperature predictions, and various other details.
A Micra driver, Samson Aderoju said, “all motorists plying this road, Olorunsogo-Akanran road are having nightmares daily because of the lack of political will on the part of the State Government to rein in, on the contractor given the job over the years.
“One wonders what the Works Commissioner and other Advisers of the Governor are doing in this regard. The Governor visited the site recently and till now, the contractor has yet to commence any meaningful works.
“It’s like the State Government is trying to play politics with this road. Why is it that despite that fact that the road was awarded over two years ago, works are yet to reach appreciable level, fueling speculations that the contractor is not doing enough at all.
“The little money we make daily are spent on fuel and mechanics workshops. And the vehicle spare parts have really gone up thus making a number of us to abandon this road until the contractor completes the work,” Aderoju hinted.
Another commercial bus driver, Sulaimon Ayanfe painted disturbing scenes of what they face daily on the road.
He said accidents occur at intervals because of the many crates of portholes on the road especially on Amuloko end leading to Akanran community.
Ayanfe urged the State Government to ensure that the contractor is mandated to speed up works on the project ahead of the commencement of rains.
A commuter, Grace Emmanuel said much as the plans of the Seyi Makinde-led administration to dualise the road was commendable, the sloppy nature of work and occasional abandonment of the site by the contractor left much to be desired.
She appealed to the Governor to end the suffering of the people in the area by reading out the riot act to the contractor with a view of ensuring that the project is completed this year and to the specification to ensure its durability and quality assurance.