The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday flagged off the construction of Olaiya flyover in Osogbo.
He said the project was in swift response to the need to secure the future population explosion, meet traffic needs, eradicate needless auto crash and enhance the quality of lives of the people through timely and prompt infrastructure development.
The proposed flyover, which will be handled by Messrs Peculiar Ultimate
Concerns Limited, is a 4-span of 15m each, with two Underpass bays for U-turning to Fakunle/Justrite and MDS/Post Office.
It is a 295.95m length of Bridge Approach Ramp, 196m long Fakunle Ramp, 99.95m long MDS Ramp, with slope of Ramp being 3 percent.
Similarly, the project is designed to accommodate articulated vehicles with intelligent lightening devices and smart traffic control devices.
The project is expected to be completed in nine months.
Addressing the people at the ceremony, Governor Oyetola disclosed that the project would cost the State a total sum of Three Billion, One Hundred and Eight Million, Three Hundred and Seventy-Nine Thousand, Eight Hundred and Twenty-Nine Naira, Seventy-Six Kobo (N 3,108,379,829.76).
The Governor said the expenses comprised the net sum of N 2,688,748,552.74 and a 13.5 percent statutory deductions which include the percentage withholding tax, 7.5 percent Value Added Tax and 1 percent stamp duty deduction.
Oyetola diaclosed that the project would be funded through the Alternative Project Funding Approach (APFA).
According to him, the APFA entails that the contractor will fund the project, while the State repays the contractor over a period of time so as to enable government to free up resources for other important obligations.
He added that the construction of the flyover would not in any way stop the government from delivering on other dividends of good governance, including citizens’ welfare, regular payment of workers’ salaries and pensions, completion of ongoing projects and initiation of more.
“Indeed, the adoption of Alternative Project Funding Approach is another leg in our model of creative funding of projects in a depressed economy and an assurance that we shall always keep our pact with our people.
“The Olaiya Flyover project is in response to the need to enhance the quality of lives of our people and improve the infrastructure our city, which in recent years is becoming more populated and boisterous on account of increasing business activities.
“The implication of this is the growing traffic around major routes in the State and specifically, the Olaiya axis, leading to waste of man hours by residents in our State.
“Sadly too, there have been countless cases of accidents of commuters. I have personally witnessed few of these unfortunate incidents. We cannot afford to waste more lives.
“Besides, response to the infrastructure needs and demands of a growing city is a proactive exercise. Therefore, this flyover is a project for today and the future because when the project is completed, we are assured that it will significantly eradicate traffic hassles and make the lives of our valued citizens more secured.
“Just as I promised in my inauguration speech, our Administration is committed to providing relevant infrastructure that supports the prosperity of our people. With this project and many more across our State, we are keeping faith with that promise,” he added.
Governor Oyetola, who assured the residents, particularly business owners around the site, of government’s consciousness to their livelihood, said, “we are therefore appealing to owners of businesses around the project site to bear with us, as we will try as much as possible to minimise inconvenience.
“Realising that the closure of this road will bring some temporary difficulties, we have made enough provision for alternative routes to serve vehicular needs.
“The demonstration we carried out a few weeks ago has provided us relevant information with which to plan and make life easier for you all.
“I urge you all to bear with us as we strive to improve the socioeconomic status of our State, and I assure you all that this project will be completed in record time,” Oyetola added.
Earlier, the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon. Timothy Owoeye, lauded Governor Oyetola for giving Osun, particularly Osogbo, a facelift of socioeconomic and infrastructural development.
In his remarks, Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Remi Omowaye, said the idea to construct the flyover was conceptualised as part of efforts to reduce traffic, lessen accident rate and advance the infrastructure development in the State.
He said the project would as well go a long way to complement some of the new roads approved for construction and rehabilitation by the Oyetola’s led administration.
Also speaking, the Chairman/CEO Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, Mr. Abel Adeleke, assured the government and residents of quality and standard service that can stand the test of time.
Adeleke who promised to bring his repository of experience in civil engineering to bear on the construction of the flyover, pledged that the project would be delivered within the stipulated record time.
“What we are operating in Osun is based on integrity and this project will be done in such a way that will not impact negatively on the debt profile of the State. We are glad to have this opportunity and I assure you that we will deliver the project within the stipulated time,” he stressed.
The Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, applauded Governor Oyetola, for taking the welfare and well-being of the people as priority just as he commended the government for deeming it fit to build the flyover as part of efforts to complement the existing road infrastructure.
Also speaking, a frontline Osogbo indigene and business mogul, Chief Olatunde Badmus, said the project is a confirmation of the fact that Osun has always been blessed with good leadership.
He commended Oyetola’s concerted effort to engender good governance as reflected in the monumental achievements the Administration had recorded so far despite the socioeconomic challenges occasioned by global realities.
Those in attendance were the Wife of the Governor, Alhaja Kafayat Oyetola; the Deputy Governor, Mr. Benedict Alabi; the Speaker, Osun House of Assembly, Hon.Timothy Owoeye; former Osun Deputy Governors, Chief Adeleke Adewoyin; Senator Christopher Iyiola Omisore and Mrs. Titilayo Laoye Ponle; and Secretary to the State Government, Prince Wole Oyebamiji; traditional rulers among others.