FG RAISES CONCERNS OVER DELAY OF COMPLETION OF ENUGU-ONITSHA EXPRESSWAY BY MTN .... Says What MTN Is Not Working In Line With Tax Credit Executive Order. Warns Of Contract Termination
The people of the South-east region of Nigeria have been assured of the commitment of the Renewed Hope administration under the leadership of President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the transformation of the transportation infrastructure in the South-east like every other geo-political zone of the country.
Giving this reassurance is the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi when he received in audience, a delegation from the Anambra and Enugu caucus of the 10th National Assembly who came to seek the intervention of the federal government on the completion of the construction of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway, handled by RCC Ltd and funded by MTN under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
The Minister, in a statement issued and signed by his Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna Orji Esq, expressed deep sympathy over the lives that have been lost along the uncompleted sections of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway especially the recent incident of tanker explosion on the Ugwu Onyema axis of the road that killed scores of people.
He stated that the people of the South-east have every reason to have implicit confidence on the ability and will of President Tinubu’s administration to address the road infrastructure deficits in the South-east and other geo-political zones of Nigeria. He noted that under Mr. President, the South-east has been given a pride of place in the political landscape of Nigeria.
"We should also be grateful to Mr. President. Since he became President, we have not heard about farmers and herders clashes in the South-east. Mr. President inherited 2,064 projects, totaling about N13 trillion, and today, those projects will be over N20 trillion, by reason of the floating of the Naira and the removal of fuel subsidy. It is nobody's fault. But by his good heart and commitment to rewriting the story of this country, he will make Nigeria great again.”
Engr. Umahi reiterated the need for the South-east to rise up in gratitude to Mr. President for prioritizing intervention on roads and for solving the problem of marginalization of the South-east.
“And so, we want the National Assembly members, and of course, South-east stakeholders, to please stand up and commend the President at all times, because this is not party something. And I can beat my chest and say that irrespective of party, no any other person will have the heart to do what Mr. President is doing for the people of South-east.”
Speaking during the event, the leader of the delegation and Minority Whip of the Senate, representing Enugu West, Sen. Osita Ngwu commended the Honourable Minister for the unprecedented scale of road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance nationwide but he expressed worries that some of the projects were not receiving adequate funding required to complete the projects in a record time. He made particular reference to the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway that was awarded to RCC and funded through the Tax credit, and today, some sections of the road have become death-traps to road users.
He stated that the recent tanker mishap on the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the road in Enugu State, compelled the delegation to make the visit to the Honourable Minister. He expressed the readiness of the Federal law makers to offer necessary collaborations and cooperation that would help in tackling the challenges and bottlenecks faced by the Ministry in ensuring the completion of the said road.
“We appreciate that since the Minister assumed office that the President has graciously approved quite a number of projects in the South-east. We appreciate Mr. President, but we are worried that it is not just about putting projects across our zone. When these projects are not funded, it looks like it is just a game. We are worried that some of the projects that are in the South East are not receiving funds that can make it to progress so that we can have benefits for such projects. And when it is not funded, it becomes a worry to us”.
On his part, the Senator representing Anambra Central in the Senate, Sen. Victor Umeh thanked the President of Nigeria for giving the South-east a sense of belonging in his administration and for the wave of road infrastructure transformation going on across the nation but pleaded with Mr. President to give accelerated intervention on funding to the roads in the South-east so that the zone could fully benefit from the economic development agenda of the Renewed Hope administration.
He said; “While I joined my brother and colleague, Senator Osita Ngwu, in thanking the President for a worthy choice of Senator Dave Umahi to be the Minister of Works, he couldn't have made a better choice based on his experience and what he was able to do as Governor of Ebonyi State through engineering infrastructure in that State.
"Through our oversight functions, we have been able to move around Nigeria in the various committees that we serve in and we were able to see the great works the President is doing in Nigeria to transform our transportation infrastructure through ambitious road projects and railway projects across Nigeria. We are from the South East Nigeria, and while we applaud the great strides the President is making to see that our roads are good and our railway infrastructure is actualized, we want to plead, on behalf of our people that the South-east should be given accelerated attention because of the infrastructure deficit we have had before he came on board".
In attendance at the meeting, are; Senator Okey Ezea, representing Enugu North, Senator Kelvin Chukwu representing Enugu East, Hon. Nnolim Nnaji, representing Nkanu East/Nkanu West Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Barr. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha, representing Eziagu/Udi Federal Constituency, Hon. Mark Chidi Obeta, representing Nsukka/Igbo Eze South Federal Constituency, Hon. Uchenna H. Okonkwo, representing Idemili North/Idemili South Federal Constituency.
Others are; Hon. Engr. Paul Nnachi, representing Enugu East/ Isi Uzo Federal Constituency, Hon. Anayo Onwuegbu, representing Aninri Agwu/Oji River Federal Constituency, Hon. Princess Chinwe Nnabuife, representing Orumba North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Paschal Agbodike, PhD, representing Ihiala Federal Constituency, Hon. Engr. Dominic Okafor, representing Aguata Federal Constituency, Hon. Gwachan Maureen, representing Oyi/Ayamelum Federal Constituency, Hon. Prof Lilian Orogbu, representing Awka North and South Federal Constituency.
The delegation also include the General Manager of MTN, Ikechukwu Uchendu, the Manager Federal Affairs, Ifeoma Nkata, MTN Community Laison, Engr Chris Okoye, Project Mgt, Obioha Dike, Project Mgt, Tochukwu Onuorah, the Legal Adviser, C. J Caleb and Simisola Ogala, and Federal Affairs, Halima Nura.
On the side of the Federal Ministry of Works were some of the Key Directors of the Ministry which includes; the Director of Highways Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. C. A Ogbuagu, the Director of Highways Bridge and Design, Engr. B. U Obioha, and the Acting Director of Highways Road and Design, Engr M. Saidu.
At the conclusion of the meeting, it was resolved among other things that the Federal Ministry of Works would write the MTN to demand that MTN should commit irrevocably to pay contractors on the project a minimum of ₦15 billion every month for the next 10 months to enable them fast track the completion of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, failing which the Ministry would initiate termination process of the project.
It was further resolved that MTN would need 3 contractors to do the 79 kilometers within the original contract sum of (MTN) ₦202 Billion. Furthermore, the remaining 72km of the road shall be awarded to other contractors through due process. MTN and RCC would be invited to bid too.
The Ministry lamented that what MTN is doing is not in line with Tax Credit Executive Order. It was noted in the meeting that the delay on the job which was due to poor funding and poor contract execution has resulted to over 100% increase of the project cost, and to allow MTN more than 11 months on the job could further push the contract to increase by over 200% and this is unacceptable to the Federal Government. The statement concluded.
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