http://www.thenationonlineng.net/2011/index.php/news/25380-road-construction-cuts-off-adaba-fm-akure.html

By Damisi Ojo2 hours 1 minute ago

Management staff and workers of a private radio station, Adaba F.M, Akure, the Ondo state capital, were at the weekend trapped in their respective offices as the broadcasting house situated along Akure-Ilesa road, Ilara-Mokin, was totally cut off from members of the public.

The Nation learnt that the contractor handling the access road to the station, which is under construction, made the road impassable by digging a wide gully on the road.

It was observed that vehicles of workers and clients were therefore confined to the station.

It was gathered that the contractor did not give the management of the radio station any prior notice before they embarked on the construction.

Eyewitness account said the agent of the contractor, Cornerstone Construction Company (CCC), came with an excavator around 2:30 pm to carry out the exercise.

They reportedly declined comments when members of Adaba F.M management demanded to know their mission.

Many observers, who visited the place, noted that the road had been abandoned for more than six months before the sudden appearance of the company with excavators.

Aggrieved workers and management staff had to return to their homes on hired motorcycles after closing hour as no vehicle could enter or move out of the station.

Prospective advertisers and commercial agents of the radio station went home disappointed as they could not have access to the station.

It would be recalled that the station was also banned from relaying some programmes purported to be against the present administration.

As at press time, many workers were still trapped in the station.

Two gatemen at the neighbouring sunshine estate, Ibule, owned by the state government, which could provide an alternative road to Adaba F.M workers, refused to allow the workers to pass through their gate to the main road.

They were said to have maintained that the order was from above.

None of the team from the construction company was ready to speak with our correspondent.

The General Manager of the radio station, Martins Ayoola, expressed displeasure on the development which he said was targeted at disrupting the activities of the station.

He urged the citizenry and other stake holders to impress it on the contractor to bail them out of their predicament.