Exclusive: Akwa Ibom Spent N55.3b On Roads In 2019

Straightnews undertook a tour of the project sites. Though government paid N1 billion last year on the 22 kilometre-Ikot Esu-Otomo-Ikot Udom-Nto Onono-Azumini Road. Yet, the asphalted road stops at Ikot Udom Ika.

At the stretch of a 14km Abak-Nsekhe-Ikot Akpa Nkuk-Ikot Etim-Ikot Ikara Road (Phase 111 section A Ikot Ibritam), it was confusing to fathom the exclusion of the road. It was discovered that during Chief Godswill Akpabio administration, the road was constructed by Setraco. From Abak-Nsekhe-Ikot Akpa Nkuk was constructed except that Setraco shortchanged the area by not providing drains and other appurtenances.

Samuel Udoh from Nsekhe village was confused why the state government paid N1,500,00,000 to contractors. Except the government included Ikot Oku Usung-Ikot Udombang-Ikot Etim Road leading to Ikot Ikara Road, otherwise it looks as fraud.

Another site was the 18.95 kilometre Ikot Ibritam-Ekeffe-Ikot Akpan Afaha Road with two bridges. The government paid N2 billion on the road to contractors last year.

Yet, one of the sub-contractors handling the road, Tony Opara, the manager of ALMADAL NIG. LTD, was bitter at the slow pace of work done in the area. “Only three kilometers of the road have been asphalted, despite the whopping amount released.”

The 19.32km Anua-Mbak Etoi-Ishiet Road, spanning from Uyo to Uruan Local Government Area is an eyesore. In 2019, N1 billion was paid on the road, yet various portions of the road impassable. From Mbak to Ishiet Uruan, the road is in a sorry state. Joe Effiong a resident of the road was unhappy concerning the snail-like speed of the project.

The 9.5km Ring Road 111 from Aka Road-Nwaniba Road, Uyo LGA handled by Hensek is pitiable. Already, 4,008,316,683 was paid in 2019. The work is not commensuare with sum released to it.

Virtually, there is no breather for all the roads. The roads are either paved or failed or abandoned or impassable even after the money has been relased.

Performance: Despite the volume of money released, the project result is not commensurate with the amount released so far. For instance, members of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly through their Committee on Finance and Appropriation led by Rt. Hon. Uduak Odudoh raised concerns over the spate of abandoned, dilapidated and poorly constructed roads in the state.

During a budget defence estimate for 2020 by Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in the state held at the Assembly complex In November 2019, the Lawmakers vented their anger over the poor state of roads.

When the then commissioner for works, Mr. Ephraim Inyang-eyen, appeared before the committee, they observed that although a huge amount of money had been released for road infrastructural development, most of the roads constructed by Udom Emmanuel’s administration may not stay beyond the lifespan of this government.

Leading the probe was a first timer in the 7th Assembly and member representing Mkpat Enin State Constituency who serves as Chairman Judiciary, Justice, Public Petition and Human Rights, Hon Victor Ekwere, who noted the early dilapidation of Awa-Ukam road and Ikot Edehge road in Mkpat Enin less than six months after inauguration.

According to Hon Ekwere, “I have taken a case study of nine Local Government Areas. So far, out of the 57 roads constructed by this administration, about 97 per cent have failed according to statistics. Maybe because they were made to be trunk A-roads but now turned to trunk C.

“The Awa -Ukam road was commissioned barely two months on May 29th 2019 but it is now a total mess. I have been receiving calls and I have gone to check the road myself. It is a real mess.”

In corroboration, the member representing Nsit Atai State Constituency, Rt Hon Mark Esset who said the situation was very pathetic as the bus the committee used during inspection in the area broke down in one of the dilapidated spots wondered why inexperienced construction firms were contracted to carry out the job.

He drew the attention of the Commissioner to another dilapidated portion of a newly constructed road along Nto-Edino Road in Obot Akara.

Esset maintained that since it is a road that leads to other States, it should not have been constructed as a trunk C road rather trunk A.

“You brought in in-experienced construction companies for the Nsit Atai road. The road instead of improving is getting worse. This is unacceptable! Tell those construction companies to leave Nsit Atai road.

“Whatever we are putting on ground should not be between 2015 to 2023. It should be beyond. It should stand the test of time. In Akwa Ibom, we are not only planning for today, but we are also planning for the future.

“You will not sit in Executive session to address us. You will be standing on the floor of the House to answer questions. The money Akwa Ibom State Government put on roads, we must receive the value. We can’t take substandard projects in Akwa Ibom State,” Esset said.

However, Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen, while reacting to the issue of Nsit Atai-Okobo Road project, said it was the Ministry’s set standard and requirement that sent the erring contractors out of the project site.

He assured that if the current company handling the road fails to meet the set requirements, they would be shown the way out, while government monies would be recovered.

His words: “Government will not lose money on the Nsit Atai-Okobo Road, be rest assured. Every Kobo will be accounted for. I can say that the governor is committed to dualising that road because we need it as a releasing point for the deep seaport.

“Out of the 57 major road contracts, 11 have been completed and commissioned. We are very hopeful that by the year 2020, in May when this administration would have been into the first year of the second term, we should be able to deliver at least another 18.”

From all indications, these were promises that could be extracted for a responsibility.

Bottlenecks: Another engineer in the ministry of Works doubts if the state government would be able to complete all the roads before 2023. “If care is not taken, the present government may abandon 70 per cent of the roads.

“There are challenges that impede the completion of the roads. The state government does provide project vehicles for us. Last year, government bought and sent vehicles, but the then Commissioner, Permanent Secretary and some directors collected them without channeling to appropriate offices.

“Two, compensation is not paid to property. I do not want to go into what transpired between the out-gone commissioner and other contractors.

“Three, project staffers are not paid their allowances. How do you expect them to supervise the roads even if they assigned?, he said.

However, Professor Eno Ibanga, the state Commissioner for Works did not want to respond to our text message.