FG embarks on rehabilitation of 11 roads in Abia -Umahi –

FG embarks on rehabilitation of 11 roads in Abia -Umahi –
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From Okey Sampson, Umuahia

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi said the Federal Government is presently involved in the rehabilitation of 11 highways in Abia State.

Umahi who was on tour of some of the project sites, disclosed this when he paid a courtesy visit on the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti at his country home, Umuehim Nvosi in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

The Minister mentioned some of the roads to include the section 2 of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway, the Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene, the Aba/Ikot Ekpene, Umuahia/Owerri and the Umuahia/Bende/Ohafia highways.

Others are the Uturu/Isuikwuato/Akara, Aba/Owerri, Ohafia/Abiriba/Nkporo highways and the Umuchichi Road in Aba.

The Minister informed that section 1 of the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway, stretching from Enugu to Umuahia Tower in Abia has been completed, while promising that the remaining stretch, from Aba to Port Harcourt would be completed, using the rigid pavement technology.

The former Governor of Ebonyi state who regretted that work on some of the roads have lingered as a result of lack of funds, however, told the governor that the good news was that financing of some of the roads have been moved to NNPC funding and as such would be completed soon.

He pleaded with the governor to intervene and pay compensation to land owners at the proposed trailer park at Arongwa, on the Enugu/Port Harcourt Expressway as to enable his Ministry move in immediately and develop the park.

Umahi disclosed that the trailer park at Lokponta along the same Expressway, had be completed and put into use.

He advised governors to appoint SA's on Federal Government projects monitoring in their various states to ensure such projects were properly executed.

He added that any of such projects not certified by the governors as having been properly executed, would not be paid for by his Ministry.

The Minister stated that Federal Government would not stop any governor from rehabilitating federal roads, assuring that money spent on such roads would be refunded when available.

He equally urged governors to checkmate kidnapping along the nation's highways by clearing the edges of the Highways about 50 metres off from the road.

Otti, responding, told the Minister that people of the state find it difficult to travel to neighbouring Rivers and Akwa Ibom states as a result poor state of federal roads in the state.

“Before now, it took 30 minutes to travel to Port Harcourt from Aba, but now, it takes three hours because of the bad nature of the road”.

The Governor informed the Minister of his administration's intention to reconstruct the Umuahia/Uzuakoli/Abiriba/Ohafia and expressed optimism the state would be refunded at the appropriate time.

Senator Umahi was earlier conducted round some of the project sites by the Federal Ministry of Works Controller in Abia State, Tony Onwubiko.

While commending some of the contractors for doing good job, the Minister frowned at the contractor handling the Ohafia/Abiriba/Nkporo Road, for abandoning the road which was awarded in 2012 and for not being on site when he visited and referred him to the Ministry's legal department for appropriate action.