The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to complete the ongoing reconstruction of the Abia end of the 49-km Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road.
The Controller, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing (FMWH) in Abia, Mr Tochukwu Onwubiko, disclosed this at a town hall meeting convened by Ikwuano Federated Unions (IFUs).
It was attended by major stakeholders of Ikwuano Local Government Area, FMWH officials and representatives of Hartland Construction Company Ltd, the contractor handling the project, amongst others.
Onwubiko admitted that there were challenges impeding the timely completion of the project, but said the challenges were not insurmountable.
He listed the cost of materials, such as fuel, diesel and others which, he said, had skyrocketed since 2019, when the project was first awarded, as part of the impediments.
He also identified the heavy rains and the issue of payment of compensation to landowners as some of the major challenges.
Onwubiko further disclosed that the Federal Government had stopped paying compensation to indigenes for costs incurred during demolition of their structures.
According to him, under the Land Use Act, land is owned by states, hence states have to pay any compensation relating to Right of Ways.
The controller, therefore, appealed to Gov. Alex Otti to intervene in the area of compensation, saying that it would be cheaper than re-awarding the contract.
He urged Ikwuano people to appreciate their son and the facilitator, Rep. Sam Onuigbo, for not relenting even after the project was awarded in 2019 but not funded.
He acknowledged that Onuigbo, the immediate past member of House of Representatives for Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency, worked very hard for the project to be transferred to NNPC Tax Credit Scheme in 2021.
Onwubiko said that the only roads constructed and completed so far across the country were those under special funding.
Earlier, the President-General of IFUs, Dr. Charles Uzondu, expressed their displeasure over the slow pace of work on the project, saying that “our youths are not happy about the development.”
The road which links Abia with Akwa Ibom, was awarded for total reconstruction at over N13.2 billion but the contractor was not mobilised until 2022.