BY KENNETH EZE
Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association’s Section on Public Interest and Development Law, NBA-SPIDEL, Dr. Monday Ubani has formally drawn the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari to the abandoned Umuahia(Ikwuano)/Ikot-Ekpene road project.
In a letter dated October 1, 2021, and addressed to the president, Ubani averred that the contractors of the project, Messrs Hartland Nigeria Limited/Raycon Company Nigeria Ltd, awarded in 2019 with a 48-month completion target, had since abandoned it over alleged non-release of funds by the Federal Government.
A copy of the letter was also forwarded to Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, Senator T.A. Orji, Hon. Sam Onuigbo, House of Representative Member representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency.
Recall that Hon Onuigbo attracted the project.
Ubani also copied the Director in Charge of the Road, Ministry of Works and Housing.
The Chairman, NBA-SPIDEL, also stated that many communities and travelers who use the Umuahia(Ikwuano)/Ikot Ekpene road were suffering untold hardship due to its deplorable condition.
Ubani said, “We do not want to believe that this present government awarded the road construction to punish the people.
“We appeal to Your Excellency to cause the release of funds for the continuation of the work of the contract on the said road and ensure maximum supervision of the quality of work that is being carried out on that road that has socio-economic advantages to the entire nation.
“The people of Ikwuano in Abia have suffered enough concerning this road which every government has failed, refused, and neglected to correct.
“We believe that your government will not join other governments that failed to fix this very important road that is critical to the survival of the indigenes of Ikwuano in Abia State.”
The Point reports that the road connects Abia to Akwa Ibom, Cross River State, and as far as neighbouring Cameroon in West Africa.
Ubani also raised concerns over the quality of jobs so far done by the contractor handling the project saying that it has been very poor.
“The level and quality of work so far done on the Ikwuano axis of the project leaves a sour taste in the mouth.
“The little drainage work done at some of the places in Oboro in Ikwuano Local Government Area does not show that there is any good intention to do a thorough work that will surely stand the test of time and be beneficial to the users of the road. The quality is not only below standard, but it is also utterly poor,” Ubani lamented.
He also claimed that the real terms of the contract remain a source of concern and appealed to the President to compel the Ministry of Works to disclose the cost and scope of the project.
“Your Excellency, despite our joy for the award, some of us raised an initial alarm concerning the contract because of lack of specifics in the disclosure about the terms of the contract. The concerns were: Does the contract include construction, dualisation, or just mere rehabilitation?
“Why will such an important road be left without dualisation and proper reconstruction that has a good drainage system,” he asked?
Ubani requested that the contractor be changed if it is found out from the initial work done by them, which in Ubani’s opinion manifests their incapacity to do a thorough job that will stand the test of time.
