The 65 kilometer Moniya/Ijaiye/Iseyin road project has been successfully completed by the contractor handling the project and ready to be commissioned by Oyo state government .
The road project which rewarded by Engr. Seyi Makinde government to Kopek Construction Company has reaches hundred percent completion within 14 months even with the challenges posed by the Endsars protest and Covid-19 lockdown and increase in cost of materials.
Engineer Paul Chamoun who is the site engineer of the project, while conducting journalists on an inspection tour of project The contractor expressed delight for the success of the job , though identified the continued devaluation of naira and COVID-19 pandemic as some of the challenges negatively affecting road construction in Nigeria.
Chamoun who spoke on behalf of Kopek Construction on Thursday in Ibadan said that devaluation of naira, COVID-19 and the ENDSARS protests which took place last year affected construction of roads in the country.
He said that project which supposed to be completed in eleven months could not be completed as promised due to the devaluation of naira, COVID-19 pandemic, ENDSARS protests and lockdown in some states last year.
Chamoun while speaking further, said that a bag of cement which was sold for about N2,300 last year is now sold at the rate of N4,200 due to devaluation of naira occasioned by high inflation.
He added that contractors across the country are now spending more money in purchase of materials, a situation which may tends to have negative impact on projects.
Chamoun warned that further devaluation of naira would have negative impact on the construction of roads and other projects across the country.
“As I told you, devaluation of naira is a big challenge that we faced. In February, it supposed to be twelve months and this is May. So, these three months, look at ENDSARS and some changes in the rain. There are some many challenges.
“We supposed to finish this project in eleven months, but we have additional three months due to the challenges we faced. We are not the only one, all other companies are facing these challenges.
“The challenges of lockdown, devaluation of naira, ENDSARS and COVID-19 pandemic. They are big challenges facing us.
“But despite the challenges, we were able to complete the project. The project is 100 per cent completion. From Moniya to Iseyin, it is 100 per cent completion.
“I can tell you that with all the challenges we face, like any other projects, there are usually challenges, but we face more than the normal challenges this time, the COVID-19 pandemic, the ENDSARS, the lockdown and for sure, the devaluation of naira are big challenges we now face.”
