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From Jude Chinedu, Enugu
The Federal Government has commended MTN Nigeria and its sub-contractors over the quality of work on the ongoing reconstruction of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, setting April 28 as the completion deadline for key sections of the project.
Minister of Works David Umahi disclosed this on Saturday in Enugu after inspecting sections of the road being executed under the MTN Tax Credit Scheme.
Umahi said the once nightmarish Enugu–Onitsha road was finally receiving the attention it deserved due to the “ingenuity, audacity, and determination” of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that previous administrations had failed to address the road’s deplorable condition.
“We came into Enugu–Onitsha road, a very problematic road, but it has been clipped by the ingenuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his determination for the South East. The previous governments never worked on that road; the past eight governments have never worked on that road. It is only by the audacity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with determination and love for South East people, that this abnormal situation is being brought to a halt,” Umahi said.
He explained that the 107-kilometre project was initially awarded to MTN under the tax credit arrangement at a cost of about ₦202 billion, adding that works valued at about ₦50 billion had already been executed before the current administration reviewed the project scope.
“MTN was having the entire project of about ₦202 billion under tax credit and when we came on board, MTN had already done about ₦50 billion worth of work. But because of the floating of the naira and the removal of subsidy, prices went up. What we did was to discope the project within the limit of what is available, and that is what MTN is doing now with its sub-contractors, Nigercat and RCC,” he explained.
Umahi said the Federal Government was satisfied with the quality of work delivered so far, noting that April 28 had been fixed for completion of the current scope.
“We are satisfied with what they have done. Where we have objections, we have told them and they are going to amend it. We have set April 28 for completion. The balance of the work is about 72 kilometres, scattered in about four sections,” he said.
He disclosed that work was currently concentrated on the most critical portions of the road, particularly the concrete sections.
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“What we came out with first are two sections — 15 kilometres and 18 kilometres — which have to do with concrete. I want to announce that in the next two weeks, the 15-kilometre carriageway would have been completed, left only with the shoulders. We have also directed that by next week, solar lights should be completed in the first five kilometres,” Umahi added.
The minister further revealed plans to extend solar street lighting across the entire corridor, with SKC being considered for the job, except in areas already covered by the Anambra State Government.
“We are also considering giving SKC the task of solar lights for the entire 107 kilometres, jumping sections where Anambra State Government has already installed solar lights. That project is going to be a project to behold, and all credits will go to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his commitment to the people of the South East,” he said.
Umahi assured road users that the prolonged hardship on the Enugu–Onitsha axis would soon come to an end.
“All the nightmares on that road will come to an end under President Tinubu. The South East people should be very grateful to him because that which we have been expecting has come to pass. For me, that is the Biafra we are looking for, and that is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” he stated.
Commending the contractors, the minister said SKC, Nigercat and RCC had demonstrated capacity and commitment.
“SKC is doing very wonderful work. We are happy with Nigercat, we are happy with RCC. Where they didn’t do well, we have told them and they are going to make amends. The second concrete section of 15 kilometres has also been started by RCC, and we are happy with what we saw,” he said.
He explained that the remaining two sections would be executed with asphalt, with priority given to the most deteriorated portions of the road.
“The other two sections will be done with asphalt. Since they are not so terrible, we have to count one before we count two. The section that is very bad, we have to do it first before we go to the one that is okay,” Umahi concluded.
