Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State on Monday went tough on the contractors handling the construction of the two new ultra-modern motor parks in Ibadan metropolis, warning them to either brace up or lose the projects.
The governor, who visited the motor parks under construction at Temidire on the New Ibadan-Ife Road and New Garage, Podo, in company with some of his cabinet members immediately after the weekly State Executive Council meeting, expressed displeasure with the pace of work.
He particularly warned the contractor handling the Temidire Motor Park to expedite action on the project and get it completed within the next one month or have it revoked.
“The contractor has been very slow. We are not happy with him and we want to make sure that this park is completed by the end of this month, failing which we shall stop the contractor; somebody else will come and finish it,” Ajimobi said.
The governor, who also was not happy with the New Garage Motor Park, however, assured the people of the area that it would be completed within the next two months.
He said that his administration decided to embark on the construction of motor parks in some areas within the Ibadan metropolis in order to decongest the state capital, reduce traffic, road accidents and harassment of commercial drivers and traders.
Ajimobi also said that the construction of motor parks would improve the aesthetics of Ibadan city, improve business and commercial activities, create more jobs as well as address the issue of violence, thuggery and brigandage for which the state capital used to be known.
“There have been so many hold-ups and go-slow created by hazardous parking, indiscipline and bad driving habits. We are going to move all commercial vehicles to the motor parks and regulate their activities. This will curb thuggery and brigandage.
“When people are organised, there will be no room for brigandage; we will be able to monitor them effectively. Oyo State used to be seen as a state of brigands. We are trying to change that now; we are trying to re-organise our people such that outsiders will see us as highly disciplined and organised people.”