ABUJA, Nigeria – The Senate has ordered its Committee on Works, pending its constitution, to investigate the award of contracts for the rehabilitation of Aba-Ossisioma, Port Harcourt, Umuahia-Ikot-Ekpene roads.
The probe will focus on the level of funds released, the utilization of these funds, and the degree of work done so far.
The resolution came about after a motion titled “Urgent Need to Investigate Delay in Completion of Umuahia Umudike-Ikot-Ekpene, Aba-Ikot Ekpene and Aba-Ossisioma to Port Harcourt Roads,” was presented by Senator Nwokocha Darlington (LP Abia) during a Senate plenary on Tuesday, July 11, 2023.
Senator Darlington stated that the aforementioned roads are vital national assets, classified as “Category A” interstates roads by the Federal Government.
According to him, these roads traverse and connect the South-East, South-South, South-West, and Northern geopolitical zones of Nigeria.
He stressed that the roads form the backbone of the economic and social life of the cities of Aba, Umuahia, Uyo, Ikot-Ekpene, and Port Harcourt.
They also serve as vital arteries for Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited operations, providing the company with an alternative distribution channel for petroleum products.
“Important agricultural produce nationwide has continued to perish due to uncountable delays in the completion of the road projects,” lamented Senator Darlington.
The contracts for the road projects were awarded to CGCC Global Project Nigeria Limited, Heartland and Raycon Construction Company, and China Civil Engineering Construction Company, CCECC.
The funding was provided by NNPC Limited, in line with the Presidential Executive Order 007 signed in 2019, under the Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme.
Despite expenditures of over N15 billion, the Umuahia Umudike-Ikot-Ekpene roads have only attained 6% completion as of April 2023, revealed the senator.
He further expressed concern over the stagnant economic situation in previously bustling commercial cities due to the poor state of the roads.
In its final resolution, the Senate urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, FERMA, to intervene urgently.
It called for immediate repairs to the failed portions of the roads and a comprehensive plan for their completion.
