Shoddy jobs on East/West Road: FG threatens to sack foreign contractors

From Joe Effiong,  Uyo,

Minister for works, David Umahi, has threatened to terminate the contracts of three foreign  companies handling the East-West Road project.

The termination of contracts is likely to happen this week after the expiration of the deadline given to the contractors not only to return to site but to also show obvious commitment to complete their sections of the project within the stipulated time.

The minister,  who dropped the threat at the stakeholders engagement for the alignment of Sections 3B and 4 of the 700km Lagos -Calabar Coastal Highway in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State on Saturday, expressed disappointment  at the slow pace of work by the foreign companies even when they had been adequately mobilised.

Umahi said the Federal Government would flag-off construction of the 107-kilometers of the 700km Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway designed to traverse through Akwa Ibom State in August.

The Coastal Highway is a 700-kilometre road designed to link Lagos with Cross River State, through the shoreline states of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Rivers, Ogun and Ondo.

Umahi explained that out of the total span of 700km, 27Km of the Section 3b and 80Km of Section 4, totaling 107-Kilometre falls within Akwa Ibom State boundaries, being the fourth longest portion of the entire coastal highway within a single state.

He listed benefiting communities within Akwa Ibom State to include Esuk Inwang, Ndon Ebom, Ikot Akpabio, Ikot Inyang, Nsia Oron, Oyoku Asang, Urua Okok, Ekpene Edi, Ntete, Esuk Ntete, Akepeti Creek, Qua Ibong, Atabrikang Aquaha, Atabrikang Ekeme, Iko, Amadaka and Okoro Inyong.

On efforts so far made on the project he said: “We have awarded the contract and started Section 1 which starts from Ahmadu Bello Way in Lagos and terminates at Deep Sea Port at 47.47km on six lanes with a train track in the middle.

“We started Section 2 from the Lekki Deep Sea Port where you have the famous Dangote Refinery, Fertilizer, the Deep Sea Port of Lagos State Government and other blue chip industries all within that location, about 30-kilometrem in length that covers that Deep Sea.

“We have started the second section there, ending at the border between Lagos and Ogun, a total of 55.77km, for Section 2. And Mr President directed that Sections 3 and 4 must start at Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom.

“On the whole, Akwa Ibom is benefiting 107km, about the 4th in length in the comity of states along the Coastal Highway. We have done about 3km fully completed on Section 1 and working in both Sections on 1 and 2. As soon as we finish procurement on Sections 3 and 4, work will start in many sub-sessions all at the same time.”

In his remarks, Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, thanked President Bola Tinubu for granting approval for the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway to commence simultaneously from both ends and sections.

The former Akwa Ibom State Governor who considered a federal presence in the state a rare opportunity, sued for support from all stakeholders in the state towards the success of the project.

“The Stakeholders’ Engagement 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 a need to give total cooperation to the construction companies that will handle this section of the coastal road”.

He, however, made a case for completion of ongoing Federal Government projects in Akwa Ibom, including the Calabar-Itu highway, Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, the East West roads in Eket and Ikot Abasi.

Governor Umo Eno also thanked Tinubu and Akpabio for directing a federal presence to the state and pledged maximum cooperation to ensure the actualization of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project.

“Let me assure you that we will cooperate with you at any time and in whichever way you want so that we can actualize the vision of Mr. President on this coastal road.

“Whatever you think we need to do to show support or talk to our young people, whether it is security, just call our attention and we will be willing to give that support. It is a commitment that I make consciously, and as you begin, we will work with you,” he assured.