Former Senator Babafemi Ojudu has questioned the federal government regarding the downgrade of the Akure-Ado Ekiti dual-carriageway project to a single carriageway.
The dispute centers on the perceived abandonment of a significant infrastructure investment. The project is intended to link Akure in Ondo State and Ado Ekiti in Ekiti State, serving as a critical transit artery for the region.
Ojudu raised concerns that the project, originally planned as a dual-carriageway, was reduced to a refurbished single carriageway. He sought an explanation for this change and the current status of the N96 billion [1] investment associated with the original dual-carriageway plan.
Reports indicate a shift in the project's trajectory this week. While some reports described the project as abandoned due to the downgrade, other accounts state that Works Minister David Umahi intervened to resolve the impasse.
According to reports from Tuesday, Umahi directed contractors to resume work on the project. Ojudu said he thanked the Works Minister for this intervention, which aims to move the project forward after the period of uncertainty regarding its specifications.
The road project remains a focal point for regional development, as the connection between the two state capitals is vital for commerce and travel in southwestern Nigeria. The transition from a dual-carriageway to a single-lane refurbishment had raised questions about the allocation, and utilization, of the initial funding [1].
“Ojudu queried the federal government on why the Akure‑Ado Ekiti dual‑carriageway project was downgraded.”
The controversy over the Akure-Ado Ekiti road highlights ongoing tensions between planned infrastructure specifications and actual execution in Nigeria. The downgrade of a N96 billion project suggests either a shift in budgetary priorities or a failure in initial project scoping, while the Minister's intervention indicates a move to mitigate political backlash and restore public confidence in federal works projects.
