Senate committee on fact-finding uncovers contract award duplication

Akpan Umoh, Uyo

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on fact-finding on East-West Road says it has uncovered duplication in the award of contracts of the project by the Federal Ministry of Works, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and State Governments in the region.

The chairman of the Committee, Sen. Abdul Ningi, representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, disclosed this in Eket when he led other committee members on a fact-finding mission on East-West on Monday.

Ningi added that there were compromises on the road with regard to engineering concepts and construction.

“One thing we have found out on grounds of awards of contracts by the Federal Ministry of Works, NDDC, the various State Governments of the Niger Delta region and even the Local Governments is duplication.

“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 we’re concerned,” Ningi said.

Ningi said that the committee would convene a public hearing on the East-West Road in Abuja, adding that during the public hearing questions would be raised on those whose responsibility it was to ensure concrete engineering design and soil testing.

He expressed disappointment that the East-West road had defied four administrations and assured that the road would be completed during the tenure of the 10th National Assembly.

In his remarks, Gov Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom stressed the importance of the East-West Road to the economic development of the country.

Eno, who was represented by his deputy Sen. Akon Eyakenyi, urged the senate committee to do all the needful to ensure the completion of the road during the tenure of the 10th National Assembly.

“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 Bola 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 into 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 into 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,” Eno said.

Earlier in his remarks. the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Work in Akwa Ibom, Mr Berida Onayesemi, expressed confidence that issues about the road would soon be addressed.