Minister of Works, Engr Nweze David Umahi, on Saturday, accused Reynolds Construction Company, RCC, and other construction companies handling the Calabar-Itu Road contract awarded by the last administration, of playing games with the project, saying he would not hesitate to terminate the contract by the end of next week if the contractors fail to mobilise to site.
The Minister was speaking at a Stakeholders’ Engagement on the alignment of sections 3B and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Uyo.
Engr Umahi particularly mentioned that, RCC had, in the last administration, received over N156million for the road project, but expressed disappointment that the company had not done any work in commensurate with that amount.
He further revealed that the said company is currently handling over 11 projects across the country, but said none of those projects was ongoing as at the time of the Stakeholders’ Engagement in Akwa Ibom.
“RCC collected over N156million from the last administration for the project, but left it. This company has over 11 projects across the country, but none is going on now. It’s all games. By next week, if they do not mobilise to site, I will terminate the contract and reaward it to those who are passionate in laying concretes to do the work”.
The former Ebonyi State Governor however said the Stakeholders’ Engagement in Akwa Ibom was part of efforts by President Bola Tinubu- led administration to seek collaboration for the commencement of sections 3B and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which would also start from the Calabar end and stretches across Akwa Ibom State.
Engr. Umahi, who disclosed that the road project would traverse up to 107kilometers in Akwa Ibom from the 700km, said President Tinubu had ordered that all the sections be started simultaneously across all the different sections of the project.
He said the project is part of the Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure aimed at revolutionalizing the transportation sector in Nigeria.
While asuring the people of Akwa Ibom of President Tinubu’s determination to improve on the nation’s road infrastructure, Engr. Umahi also pledged to complete East-West Road, spanning up to Eket axis, Calabar-Itu Road, and other federal government road projects for the benefit of the people.
Speaking at the event, the President of Senate, Senator Godswill Akpabio, expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for consenting that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway should commence from both ends and sections.
Senator Akpabio said it was in view of this that the engagement became necessary to enlist the support of all stakeholders from the state towards the success of project.
” The Stakeholders’ Engagement today is principally to let people of the state know, through the Minister that, for you to make an omelette, you must break the egg. Mine was just to come and join in appealing to our people that there is need to give total cooperation to the construction companies that will handle this section of the coastal road.
” We are delighted that we are having a federal presence in our state”.
The Senate President, who solicited for all the federal government projects in Akwa Ibom, including the Calabar-Itu and Aba-Ikot Ekpene Roads to be completed, however sued for peace and cooperation to enable contractors work for the realisation of the coastal road and deliver it in record time.
Governor Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, on his part, told the Minister that he had already commenced payment of compensation to owners of structures along Calabar-Itu, as part of his commitment to push for the immediate completion of the road.
The Governor therefore, pledged to give all the support required to ensure that all the federal projects in the state would be executed and completed for use by the Akwa Ibom people.
He thanked President Tinubu for his determination to transform the country through the construction of Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure that would stimulate economic prosperity of the country.
Pastor Eno also appreciated the Senate President for working to ensure that Akwa Ibom state benefits from federal government projects in his time as the number three man in the country.
There was a goodwill message from the Nigerian Society of Engineers, who described the Renewed Hope Legacy Road Infrastructure, a brainchild of President Tinubu, as a move towards economic revival of Nigeria.
The Stakeholders’ Engagement had in attendance, chairman and members of Senate Committee on Works, National Assembly members from Akwa Ibom State, representatives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Akwa Ibom State Council, representatives from the Ministry of Transportation, traditional rulers, among other key stakeholders.
