Governor Aregbesola
By Yinka Kolawole
To help alleviate the problems of Osun State indigenes in the area of transportation, the state government has signed an agreement with Gardol Nigeria Limited.
The agreement with the private sector operator is on the award of a contract on the construction of an 11-kilometre perimeter fencing of Ido-Osu airport.
Signing on behalf of the state government, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Transport, Mr. Oladepo Amudah, disclosed that the present administration was determined to resuscitate the airport and give it a facelift in order to make it one of the best in Nigeria.
According to him, the fencing project would cost the government a sum of N135,223,690.00 and would be completed within three months. He noted that the government had taken this step to ensure full realisation of the project and to facilitate the use of the airport by the public.
Amudah posited that the location of the airport was suitable for the government because it has the most conducive terrain in West Africa for the establishment of such a facility.
He revealed that the fencing of the airport, which is the first phase, was part of the requirements of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and Association of Airline Operators (AAO).
Amudah stressed that, apart from meeting the requirements of the regulatory bodies, the fencing would prevent animals from entering the airport as well as discourage people from encroaching on the runway.
While appreciating Governor Aregbesola for embarking on the project, he admonished the contractor to deliver a good job within the stipulated time and called on the people to cooperate with the present administration in the state.
Responding, the Chairman, Gardol Nigeria Ltd, Otunba Rufus Akinrinwale, assured that his company would deliver within the given contract period and to specification without hindrance.
In a similar vein, the state government has also signed an agreement on the award of contract for the construction of blockwall fencing and gate of Suprintending Engineer Yard Zonal office building with Rafad Nigeria Limited.
Signing the agreement on behalf of the Governor, Amudah disclosed that the completion of the yard, which was abandoned by previous administrations, was necessary for the present administration in order to ensure proper monitoring of the state’s works equipment kept therein.
According to him, the project would cost the state government a total sum of N65m and would be completed within sixteen weeks.
Amudah stressed that the contractor was ready to finance the project aside from the mobilisation fees it received from the state government, adding that the place would also be used as the office of Osun Road Maintenance Agency (ORMA), which is saddled with the responsibility of maintaining state roads.
He also noted that the S.E yard, when completed would be used by OSTRAMEC team to keep impounded vehicles and motorbikes, warning that failure by owners of impounded vehicles would attract demurrage.
The Special Adviser recalled that the state government had demolished the S.E yard office at the old Secretariat for the development of Ayegbaju Modern Market to ascertain the socio-economic development of the state.
Amudah commended the Governor on the laudable project and appealed to the contractor to speed up the completion of the site within the time frame.