Story Jonathan Lois
The Federal Government has attributed delays in the execution of the 49-kilometre Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal road to high construction materials cost and late release of fund.
Project Engineer, Mr. Hashim Yissan, who spoke when the lawmaker for Ikwuano/Umuahia Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, undertook routine inspection of ongoing projects in his constituency, said the contract has attained 12 per cent or six- kilometres level.
The contract awarded in 2019 at N13 billion costs is being handled by Hartland and Raycon Construction Company and funded by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
He, however, assured on the release of funds through the NNPCL and Federal Ministry of Works. He also reiterated that the project would be completed within the scheduled time frame.
Onuigbo, who would serve out his second term on May 29, 2023 also inspected other ongoing road and erosion projects in his constituency, during which he commissioned the Oloko hospital, school projects in Amaba and Umudike, all in Ikwuano council before rounding off at the skill acquisition project being funded by him at Umuahia South council for the youths.
He thanked the Federal Government and Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola for awarding the contract, which he said would uplift the fortunes of his constituents on completion.
He promised to sustain monitoring the progress of the road works even after his exit as lawmaker till it is completed.
Recall that the Umuahia- Ikot Ekpeneroad is the alternative route from Cross River and Akwa Ibom states to Abia and the rest of South east, South South and South West states and absolved heavy duty vehicular traffic.
In the absence of Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene road, commuters from Cross River and Akwa Ibom states use the Ikot Ekpene – Aba road to other parts of the South East, South South, South West and Northern states. The road also leads to the Calabar Export Zone and Cement factories.
Due to the dilapidated state, the journey from Umuahia to Ikot Ekpene on this 49 kilometre road during the rainy season, took over six hours even putting at risk heavy duty vehicles conveying cement and imports from Calabar as goods fall off or trapped in mud for days. On many occasions, residents had cried to both the Abia State government and Federal Government to attend to the road. The Akwa Ibom State end of the road is not in deplorable state like that of the Abia State portion/stretch.
