Residents of Idanre Local Government Area of Ondo State have appealed to the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to intervene in the stalled Idanre–Owena federal road project, alleging that the contract has been abandoned despite being awarded over two years ago.
According to The Punch, they said the road project, awarded in 2023, has recorded no visible construction activity, leaving commuters and residents to contend with its deteriorating condition.
The appeal was contained in a petition submitted by Banji Olusesan on behalf of concerned residents of the council area. A copy of the petition was made available to our correspondent on Monday.
According to the petition, the neglected condition of the road has continued to inflict hardship on residents, disrupt economic activities and expose road users to safety risks, prompting calls for urgent Federal Government intervention.
The petition read in part, “We write as concerned citizens and residents of Idanre Local Government Area, Ondo State, to respectfully request the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission regarding the Idanre–Owena Road Project.
“The Idanre–Owena Road was officially awarded on 27th January 2023 for rehabilitation and reconstruction. Despite the award, no contractor has been seen on site from the date of the award till now.
“There has been no visible commencement of work, no equipment mobilisation, and no construction activity whatsoever. Shockingly, the project continues to appear in the federal budget as an ‘ongoing project’, creating the impression that work is in progress when nothing has been executed on the ground.
“This situation raises serious concerns of mismanagement and possible diversion of public funds, as the communities have derived no benefit from the awarded project.”
The petitioners urged the government to immediately halt “any further payment or release of funds on the Idanre–Owena Road project.”
They also requested an independent verification and investigation into the status of the project and the funds allocated to it, alongside the public disclosure of the contractor handling the project and details of the approved and released funds.
In addition, the residents called for the prosecution of “any individual or contractor found to have mismanaged or misrepresented the project,” while urging the authorities to either properly re-award the contract or ensure the immediate commencement of rehabilitation works for the benefit of the people of Idanre Local Government Area.
“We submit this petition in the interest of transparency, accountability, and development. We trust that your office will treat this matter with the urgency it deserves and take necessary steps to protect public funds and ensure that the Idanre–Owena Road is properly rehabilitated,” they appealed.
