Why FG should fast tract construction of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road

By Abutu peter

There is no doubt that the deplorable condition of Odukpani – Itu – Ikot Ekpene road have been a source of concern to indigenes of both Cross Rivers and Akwa Ibom states and other commuters plying the road who have had to contend with untold hardship over the years.

The impassable state of the road is responsible for the public outcry which forced the federal government to give the road deserved attention recently.

It is very painful that a trip on that road between the two states of Akwa Ibom and Cross Rivers which used to be less than two hours drive now takes over seven hours to nine hours.

This situation is worrisome and is crippling economic activities in the entire region.

Several groups and individuals have over the years expressed sadness over the total neglect of the road which is not healthy since this is the only road linking two oil producing states of the South South

The contract for the dualization of the road was awarded in May, 2018 with an advance payment guarantee (APG) to the tune of about N10 billion.

The initial project duration was 30 months and the awarded section was expected to be completed last November, 2020.
However government faulted by not making finances available to ensure the project time-line is followed through.

What is worthy of note is that out of approximately about 87 kilometers of the entire stretch of the road starting from Odukpani to Ikot-Ekpene, only 21.9 kilometers was actually awarded in the said contract. That is, 12.2 kilometers and 9.7 kilometers respectively for Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State. This has agitated the minds of stakeholders for a long time who have serially canvassed that the entire stretch of the road be awarded to Julius Berger for execution.

Though the contract fir the project was actually awarded in 2016, the contractor Julius Berger was only mobilized in 2018. The construction gaint was on site up until April of 2019 but suspended work afterwards following the Federal Government’s inability to pay for job certified up to the tune of about N4 billion.

However it is rather unfortunate that while it was yet to fully meet its obligation to construction giant, Julius Berger the Federal Government surreptiously awarded two new categories of contracts on the same road while ignoring its outstanding liabilies to Julius Berger so that it can continue with the project.

Only last week, the Ministry of Works and Housing presented another memorandum to the Federal Executive Council FEC, for the completion of the dualisation of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in relation to the section from Oku Iboku Power Plant to Abak of about 26 kilometre stretch.

But surprisingly instead of contracting the remaining sections of the road to Juluis Berger the contract was awarded to Messers Sematech Nigeria Limited for N79.649 billion to be executed over 16 months.

Sematech has no known competence in handling projects in the Niger Delta neither are we aware of any project that has been successfully started and completed by the company that is as complex as the project in question.

Similarly CCECC which got a section of the road project for N54 billion cannot be compared to Julius Berger in terms of quality standards and competence in the execution of road infrastructure.

Awarding a critical road of this nature to these contractors raises questions about the Federal governments commitment to the successful execution of these project. Or are we to belief that government itdlself is setting the project to fail?

The CCECC for instance about two years ago was indicted by the world bank for shady dealings and corrupt practices and barred from not only world bank projects but government projects. This is the same company the Federal Government has chosen to give the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road project.

When it comes to project execution in the northern parts of the country the federal government always goes for the best. For instance the entire dualisation of the 797 billion naira, Abuja to Kano project was awarded to only Julius Berger and the project is already due for completion before the end of 2023.

We are talking of a dual carriage of 375 kilometers road from Abuja-Kaduna- Kano billed for completion in less than 36 months.

The Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road road is a critical artery in the south south and considering the terrain of the place we believe that Juluis Berger should have being awarded the entire project. Juluis Berger over the years has demonstrated competence in handling complex project of this nature especially in the South South.

Sametech is hardly know to us while ccecc is at best a rail construction company which has not demonstrated competence in road construction.

Just as the Federal Government thought it wise to award the Abuja to Kano express riad to Juluis Berger which today is seen as one of the best roads in the country in terms of the technology being deployed by Juluis Berger it would have been expected that the entire stretch of the road be awarded to Juluis Berger not to an unknown company or one whose roads construction experience and ethical credentialzls are questionable.

Peter Abutu is the covener of the Niger Delta Forum of Professionals for good governance.