Senate Tasks Federal Govt On Repair Of South-East Roads

The Senate has called on the executive arm of government through the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to intervene and include the rehabilitation of Umuahia-Umudike-Ikot-Ekpene, Aba-Ossisioma to Port-Harcourt Roads in the planned nationwide repair.

It mandated the Committee on Works (when constituted) to investigate the award of the contracts for the reconstruction/rehabilitation of the roads.

This is to ascertain the level of funds released, utilisation, the level of work completed and factors contributing to the unaccounted delays in the execution of the projects and report to the Senate within four weeks for further legislative action.

The resolutions were sequel to a motion moved by Sen. Darlington Nwokocha (LP-Abia) during Tuesday’s plenary.

The motion was tagged: “Urgent Need to Investigate the Delay In the Completion of Umuahia-Umudike-Ikot-Ekpene, Aba-Ossisioma to Port-Harcourt Roads.”

According to Nwokocha, the roads were critical national assets and Federal Government Category A Interstate roads, traversing and connecting the South-East, South-South, South-West and Northern geo-political zones of the country.

He said that the roads are dilapidated due to unaccountable delays in the completion of the projects.

“They are central to the economic and social nerves of the cities of Aba, Umuahia, Uyo, Ikot-Expene, and Port-Harcourt.

“The roads also serve as the arteries of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC-Limited) operations, providing the company an alternative channel for the distribution of Petroleum Products, as well as important agricultural produce nationwide,” he added.

Nwokocha further said that in spite of expending over N15 billion since inception on these critical roads, the Umuahia-Ikot Ekepene Road had only attained 6 per cent completion as of April 2023.

He noted that the deplorable state of Aba-Ikot Ekpene and Aba-Port-Harcourt roads has led to the economic stagnation of the former boisterous commercial city of Aba with more than 1000 businesses closing down.

He said that the roads if not expeditiously addressed, would worsen the devastating economic woes and threats to lives and property posed by the failed sections of the roads.