Idanre Residents Ask FG to Fix Abandoned Road Project

Residents of Idanre Local Government Area in Ondo State are asking the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to step in on the Idanre, Owena federal road project. They believe the project has been left untouched for too long.

They reported that the Idanre, Owena road project was awarded in 2023, but no work has started since then. The road is now in a terrible state.

This information comes from a petition sent to the minister by Banji Olusesan, representing concerned residents of the area. The petition was shared with our correspondent on Monday.

The petition states that the bad condition of the road is causing difficulties, economic losses, and safety risks for residents. This is why they are calling for the Federal Government to take action.

The petition reads, "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."

It continues, "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."

The residents are worried about the potential mismanagement of funds. They mentioned, "This situation raises serious concerns of mismanagement and possible diversion of public funds, as the communities have derived no benefit from the awarded project."

They are demanding that the government take swift action to halt any further payment or release of funds for the Idanre, Owena Road project. They also want an independent check and investigation into what has been done with the funds and who the contractor is.

The petitioners are urging the government to prosecute anyone found to have mishandled or misrepresented the project. They want the contract to be properly awarded again or for the project to genuinely start for the benefit of Idanre residents.

They concluded, "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."