The Minister of Works, Sen David Umahi, said the construction of Sections 3b and 4 of the Akwa Ibom-Cross River axis of the Coastal Highway would kickstart by August 2024.
Speaking at a Stakeholders' Engagement on the alignment of Sections 3b and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway on Saturday in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, the minister explained that the routes in Akwa Ibom have two sections, 27 and 80 kilometers, totaling 107 km, respectively, which would be about the 4th in length from Lagos to Cross River states.
According to him,
"Mr President, Bola Tinubu, graciously directed that Sections 3 and 4 must start in Cross River and Akwa Ibom. That is why we are here to introduce the routes in Akwa Ibom. Incidentally, the routes have two sections: Section 3b, which is 27 km, and Section 4, which is 80 km. So, on the whole, Akwa Ibom is benefitting from 107 km, which is about fourth in length all the way from Lagos to Cross River.
When we conclude procurement and award these Sections 3 and 4, work will commence simultaneously in August."
Umahi, however, warned contractors against undue delay in the execution of projects, saying that the federal government would not hesitate to terminate the contract if the contractor was not up and doing and re-award the same to another credible contractor immediately.
He regretted that construction giants such as Julius Berger, China Civil Engineering and Construction Company, and the Reynolds Construction Company have failed to deliver on their projects despite the large sums sunk in by the government.
He warned that if the trio fail to mobilize to the site by next week, they would risk termination of their contracts.
Umahi also expressed disappointment that the contractors have been giving excuses of non-payment of compensation as reasons for not mobilizing to the site, while noting that the Akwa Ibom State government had already settled the compensation issues as it concerns the Calabar-Itu road.
He, therefore, noted that the federal government has set up modalities to support local contractors to compete with the expatriate contractors, saying that the government would no longer condone any form of sharp practices or games that would subject the people or road users to untold hardship.
He said,
"Mr President has given enough money to fund the projects. The same thing with Julius Berger, by the end of this coming week, if Julius Berger fails to remobilize to the site and the CCECC fails to mobilize to at least three sections of the road, the jobs will be terminated.
"The worst of the roads in the entire South-South remains this Akwa Ibom to Cross River through Itu and Odukpani, and also the section that is being done by RCC. RCC had collected over N40 bn on that road, 15 kilometers of roads, N156 bn inherited from the past administration, they are playing tricks. We have been working on them to change their mindset, and by the end of next week, our 14-day notice of termination of the contract will elapse, and we will terminate the projects and give them to those who have mastery of laying concrete."
Also speaking during the Stakeholders' meeting, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, called on the state governor, Umo Eno, and all the stakeholders to show maximum cooperation to the contractors when the project kicks off.
He appreciated President Bola Tinubu for listening to his plea to ensure that the Coastal Highway passes through Akwa Ibom State and for the construction to be carried out at the same time as the Lagos section so it would be completed in record time.
In his remarks, the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Umo Eno, who disclosed that his government had paid compensation with regards to the Calabar-Itu road, assured that his administration would give adequate support in terms of security and other logistics to ensure the completion of the road in record time.
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