Breaking: East-West Road Contracts Duplicated -Senate Committee

The Senate Ad-hoc Committee on fact-finding on East-West road has stumbled on a shocking discovery, that the East-West Road contracts were actually duplicated.

The road projects were awarded by the Federal Ministry of Works, the state governments of the respective states and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The stunning discovery was made open today in Eket by the chairman of the Committee, Senator Abdul Ningi.

 It came on the heels of remarks the Controller of the Federal ministry of Work in Akwa Ibom, Mr Berida Onayesemi who expressed confidence that set targets on the project would be met.

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Speaking however, Ningi opened a can of worms stating that: “One thing we have found out on ground 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: Ningi who led a fact finding mission said.

“We were also disturbed  that while we have noticed dilapidation of the road, we clearly seen 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”.

The Senate equally expressed disappointment at the manner the East-West road projects had been handled thus far, saying Nigeria deserved more.

He however raised hopes the project would be completed within the lifetime of the 10th National Assembly.

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Giving indication of what next, he said, his committee would be raising more questions on the way the East-West Road project had been handled.

This he added would during a public hearing on the project soon to be convoked.

Stressing the importance of the East-West road project, the Akwa Ibom State governor, His Excellency,  Umo Eno who was represented by his deputy Sen. Akon Eyakenyi said:

“The importance of the construction of East-West road cannot be overemphasised, for it will boost the economy and bring development into the rural communities it passes through.

 “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.

He also urged the senate committee to ensure the completion of the road during the tenure of the 10th national assembly.

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“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.

“The 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 last 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 the Section 4.”, the governor said.