Niger Delta economy rests on East West road, says Umahi

…Blames contractors for deplorable state of highway
…As Akwa Ibom govt. hails Minister for enduring pains traveling on the road

By Oloche Benjamin

Works Minister, Engr. David Umahi has said the heart of the economy of the Niger Delta people rest on the East West road.

Engr. Umahi , who stated this while narrating his experience during the tour of the road, which terminated in Cross River State, however, lamented that the highway is at very terrible state.

He said motorists and other users have being going through excruciating pains and sufferings because the contractors handling some sections of the highway are doing bad construction work .

Speaking further, Umahi told the Akwa Ibom and Cross River State Governments during the meeting with them at their respective states on Thursday, that he had a very terrible experience driving from Warri down to Port Harcourt sections of the road.

The Minister said “We have been on tour of East West Road , and I think that the heart of the economy of the Niger Delta people rest on this East West road, I started since Sunday from Abuja through Kogi to Benin , it has been a very ugly experience , I was on the road for 14hours, in some cases we could not pass we have to start going through villages.

“We saw trucks that have been on the road for more than 7days and then we came into Benin, East West road continues to Warri , it is the same story in some of the locations you see trucks piling over 5kilomettres parked because of bad road , Sapele to Agbor is so terrible.

“All these projects have been awarded by the previous administration which is a very good intention but while the contractors are on site working , the roads are failing”

He continued, “I have challenged them to tell us why the roads are failing and they have not been able to do so , the dummy they sold to our people that because the roads are being overloaded , I have challenged them and they have shut their mouth up because they are doing bad construction work .

“There is no road they are building that is going to last 5 years , if you take from Warri down to Port Harcourt , it is a very terrible experience.

“If President Tinubu did not send me to intervene, in 30 days nobody can travel from here to Warri, it is impossible , we have over 10 locations where the roads are below the flood lane and one section has already cut off “

The Minister told the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Sen (Dr)Akon Eyakenyi that “In section 2 of the East West road, I got very pleased with the bridges but the roads are very bad, I have directed the contractor to use his money and reconstruct it, the claim that it is flood, I didn’t buy into that, he must reconstruct it with his money.

“I don’t want to mention the name of the contractor, you cant be working on the road and they are getting bad and you are asking us to pay you “

“In 14 days, the entire length of the roads that are ongoing in this country the entire stretch must be maintained to relief the ugly incidence that we are seeing on our roads where the people are suffering.

“I thank President Bola Ahmed Tinubu that asked me to tour all the roads all over the country, he mandated me to tour the road as a fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers to be able to assess it myself and bring up a comprehensive report to him .

“And I can assure you that at the time we roll out the concrete road pavement that the Mr President invented and directed , Niger Delta people will be very happy “ He remarked.

Umahi said he had inspected section 3 of the East West road under RCC Construction company coming down to the boundary between Rivers and Akwa Ibom where the road is lower than the plain, he said the scope was not good enough but had introduced another kind of technology for additional work which they would use to raise the road .

The Minister reiterated the need to toll the roads , and said states needed to get involved in the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI ) ,

The Minister has also directed that, when anyone sees any section of the road being worked upon by a contractor and it is not motorable, the contractor should be stopped by the people immediately .

In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State hailed the appointment of the Minister of Works saying “I stand here today on behalf of the Governor and the people of Akwa Ibom to welcome you on this official one day visit to Akwa Ibom State on inspection of Federal roads in Akwa Ibom State .

“I am very happy this is happening it is a proof that the right person is on the saddle of operation where you have to move personally to drive through all the bad roads to see things for your self and to feel what the people of the area are feeling , it is the best thing to happen and I am very sure that will give you a great drive to do the needful.

“We are very greatful and I am very certain that this visit will bring good tiding to Akwa Ibom State”

The Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu on his part said “We jubilated here over your appointment, the whole country is going to be better for it , I believe that contractors won’t do bad jobs and go with it, if govt officials are not with them.

‘Our jubilation was based on the fact that you merited this appointment , you have already started well , just within a few days in office you have identified some of the problems and thank you so much for bringing innovation and all these ideas” .