By Demola Akinyemi

Kwara state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr Rotimi Iliyasu has allayed the fears, assuring that the ongoing Tanke Flyover Bridge initiated by the current administration would be completed by December .

The Flyover Bridge, designed to ease the age long heavy traffic along University of Ilorin and the adjoining residential and hostel areas is one of the major projects of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq administration.

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin ,the Commissioner  said that  existing structures at the site notwithstanding, that makes it look to the ordinary minds as if the work is not progressing, the work is 70% complete.

“What you’re seeing there that looks skeletal as you call it to ordinary minds, as if nothing serious is going on is about 70% completed. The major aspect has been done, the concretes have been made what is left is just filing up and plastering which account for the 30%.

“I can assure you that the whole work would be completed by December because we are also going to use everything within our means to ensure that its completed. “He said.

The Commissioner also said that the contractor has been issued a query towards enforcing government target and ensuring that he’s more serious and committed to the project.

 He also said that the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia has significantly inflated prices of major items on various roads contracts awarded some months back.

He said the development would in no small measure affected the time frame of completion earlier planned, adding that the reviewing of those contracts is inevitable for them to be completed within the planned time frame.

On the inflated prices of materials for the road projects as a result of the ongoing war between Ukraine and Russia, he said, “the prices of our major materials for roads construction and rehabilitation have increased by not less than 50% contrary to what we budgeted and agreed with our contractors at inception and this is really slowing us down.

“We are trying to find a middle course because the jobs have to be done. So, we may have invite the contractors in reality of the new development and agree on the way forward.”