By Christian Agadibe
The senator representing Enugu West Senatorial zone at the Senate, Osita Ngwu has assured the people of the zone that all the on-going and abandoned road projects in the zone would be completed in the shortest time possible.
He gave the assurance during his recent visit to Amukwu Affa in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, where he has gone to ascertain the level of work on the road project in the area, following the resumption of activities by IDC Construction Limited.
Ngwu, who was recently made the chairman of the Senate Committee on Solid Minerals, rekindled his people’s hope when he vowed to ensure that all the abandoned and ongoing projects in the district would receive the desired attention through his constructive engagements with the relevant ministries and agencies.
He led an entourage comprising the local government council officials, and some party members to inspect the ongoing Udi North Ring Road, which covers the Ikedimkpa-Amokwu-Egede Umuoka-Ojieyu-Awhum-Umulumgbe stretch. He noted that the road project, which was attracted by former Sen Ike Ekweremadu in 2018, had only been done 15 percent due to insufficient funds released to the contractors.
A representative of the company, Youssef, informed the Senator that the contract was for a 14-kilometre ring road awarded in 2018 at the cost of N6billion. He said the 15 percent deposit of the contract sum was what the company used to construct four kilometres.
Youssef also said that construction work on another four kilometres road had commenced, following the release of N2billion SUKUK fund to the contractor. He promised that the said 4km road would be completed before Christmas, and appealed to Sen Ngwu to assist the company in getting more funds to cover the entire 14 km. He assured that the company has the necessary equipment and manpower to complete the road in eight months before the next rainy season, if funds were available.
Addressing the contractors and the people of Affa community, Sen Ngwu thanked the construction company for mobilising to the site and effectively making progress on the road projects.
“What we notice is that sometimes, the reason projects fail is that releasing N100 million for a N10 billion project is not even enough to bring the equipment to the site, and this delays the project. So, thank you for the commitment. Even with the weather, you are here to work. We will give you all the support. I will make sure everything goes well,” he promised.
Senator Ngwu especially appreciated his predecessor in the National Assembly, Prof. Ike Ekweremadu, for his foresight and efforts to bring the project to the community. In the same breath, he assured the construction company: “We are still going to make sure that we talk to the government so that extra funds will be released.”
While addressing members of the community, he urged them to continuously support the Enugu State government and the Federal Government of Nigeria and promised that he will do all within his ability to ensure the ministry overseeing the project releases funds to enable the completion of the road and other roads within his constituency.