Niger Delta Activists Forum has thanked President Buhari for awarding the remaining section of Odukpani/Itu/Ikot Ekpene road, for the sum of about eighty billion naira and his choice to contract SERMATECH Nig Ltd., an indigenous company for the project.
The forum said this in a statement signed by its president Comrade Success Jack; Comrade Bernard Okori Oko, National Youth leader; Comrade Paul Abang Ajie, State Chairman and Comrade Emmanuel Ogar, State PRO.
The Forum noted that the said company, though indigenous, has executed world class jobs with compliance to local content laws and excellent community relations.
According to the statement, “Few days ago, we were greeted with the sweet news of the award of the remaining section of the Odukpani/Itu/Ikot Ekpene road, for the sum of about eighty billion naira.
“The news is made even sweeter because of the decision to award the contract to SERMATECH Nig Ltd, an indigenous company owned by one of our own from the Niger Delta region.
“We say thank you to President Buhari, the Honourable Minister of Works, HE Babatunde Raji Fashola and all that played one role or the other in making this happen.
“It is indisputable that SERMATECH, though an indigenous company, have continued to execute jobs with world class finishing, excellent community relations, compliant with local content laws etc.
“It is on record from our investigation during the execution of the Alesi-Ugep multi billion naira super highway,that there was no single complaint from communities around the stretch, and superb quality of job delivery and on time.”
The forum further urged the federal Government and the honourable Minister to continue to identify local contractors, from the Niger Delta with capacity and competence to deliver for awards as this. “It is a good day for us because whatever those foreign multinationals can do, we also have the capacities inhouse. And this is a great way to increase the Niger Delta regional inclusion quotient, while creating jobs, reducing insecurity, improving local GDP, boosting msme and the microeconomy of the area etc,” the statement further stated
The forum encouraged other Niger Deltans in every sector of national life to follow the examples of SERMATECH in improving and demonstrating capacity to play at higher levels.
“We believe that SERMATECH would bring to bear utmost professionalism, for which it is known for and deliver as usual and make us proud as a region.
“SERMATECH is fast becoming a global brand and we want them to execute this dear project without compromise, as the Niger Delta Activists Forum (NDAF) would not hesitate to call them to order should they compromise,” the statement added
