Senate Decries Duplication Of East-West Road Contracts
The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on fact-finding on East-West said it has uncovered duplication in the award of contracts of the project by the Federal Ministry of Works, the Niger Delta Development Commission, and various state governments in the region, including the local governments.
This is just as it said there were compromises on the road about engineering concepts and construction.
The chairman of the Committee, Senator Abdul Ahmed Ningi, who represents Bauchi Central Senatorial District, stated this on Monday, in the Eket local government area of Akwa Ibom State when he led other committee members on a fact-finding mission on East-West.
“That is one thing we have found out on the ground of awards by the Federal Ministry of Works, NDDC, the various state governments of the Niger Delta region and even the local governments.
“We were also disturbed that while we have noticed dilapidation of the road, we saw from the initial concept engineering that they did not do the scientific needful of testing the soil, of getting the required attention on the road, and that has to do with some compromises. This is unacceptable as far as I am concerned, “Senator Ningi said.
The senator who assured that the committee would convene a public hearing on the East-West road in Abuja, said during the public hearing questions would be raised on those whose responsibility it was to ensure concrete engineering design and soil testing, adding that otherwise, the government will just be spending money for nothing.
Senator Ningi expressed disappointment that the East-West road had defied four administrations: President Obasanjo’s administration, the late Alh Musa Yar’Adua, and Jonathan, who assured that the road would be completed during the tenure of the 10th National Assembly.
Earlier, the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pst Umo Éno stressed the importance of the East-West road to the economic development of Nigeria and urged the committee to do the needful to ensure its completion.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Senate committee, Pst Éno who was represented by his deputy, Akan Ayakenyi said “The importance of the construction of East-West road cannot be overemphasized for it will boost the economy and bring development into the rural communities it passes through.
“In your remarks, you did mention that you will have to look into the finances; what was released; why was it not used, and so on. I am very certain that the current administration under President Tinubu will dig deep into the finances released for the construction of the East-West road.
“During the 9th Assembly, budgetary provisions were made for the East-West road construction, approved and released but who got the money and how was it used?
“As you are coming for this fact-finding assignment, I will encourage you to investigate the issue. If money was released and not used for the purpose, please let what is to be done be done.
“Section 4 of the East-West road which moves from Eket and terminates at Uya-Oro junction needs to be properly dualised and completed and not something that lasts for two to ten years and starts collapsing, we need a proper construction to be done.
“I want to appeal that you should not only look at Section 4, please also get into Section 5 of the East-West road which moves from Uya-oro to Cross River because if we had that alternative way, now that the Calabar-Itu road is bad, We would not have suffered this much.
