The federal Lawmaker representing Ikwuano/Umuahia at the National Assembly, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo Tuesday inspected the Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene federal road project he attracted and also commissioned some of his constituency projects.
Not minding that he is not returning to the National Assembly as he did not make it in the last Presidential/National Assembly Elections, the Lawmaker has assured that he will continue with the projects, many of which he said are in the federal budget.
Inspecting the 49-kilometer N13.3 billion federal government/Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC federal road project, Hon. Onuigbo disclosed that the federal road was awarded in May, 2016 starting with palliative work which was done, while total reconstruction was later approved by the federal government.
When the project took off in 2021 he said, it encountered some problems and was later transfered to the NNPC which is presently funding the project which will be completed in 2024, stating, “we have recorded significant improvement and the road significantly going on”.
He said it is the first time the road is being done, assuring that he will continue to engage relevant authorities to ensure completion of the road to make life enjoyable for the road users, adding, “I facilitated the road reconstruction”.
He also disclosed that a Federal Secretariat in the state he facilitated is on the way, expressing his hope that the in-coming administration in the state will provide the necessary support for that.
Apart from other road projects, he also disclosed that the dualization of Umuahia – Umudike 16 kilometer road, and the dualization of Amachara – Express Tower road with a fly-over at the Abia Tower of Peace contract will soon be awarded, as well as an inter-state road, the Achingali (Imo State) – Obizi – Ubakala (Umuahia South, Abia State) which is on-going.
Others he said, include Ibere – Obohia – Nkari (Akwa Ibom), among other projects.
He commended President Mohammed Buhari as having done well in his constituency, the state, the south east and Nigeria in general. including the repair of Enugu – Umuahia expressway, the on-going Umuahia/Ikot Ekpene road, the Umuahia – Arochukwu road and the second Nigeria bridge which is due to be opened in May, 2023.
Earlier, the Project Engineer, Mr. Hisham Yassin explained that his company, Heartland/Raycon Joint Venture started the project from the bad side and now at the priority section of the road, expressing his hope that the company will do much before May, 2023 ending.
He disclosed that before then, finance has been the major constraint stalling the project, stating that now they have been mobilized, that the early rains are presenting a major challenge to them, assuring however that there is no more financial challenges as “the NNPC is up to their promises”.
“Of the 49 kilometer road, 6km have been done due to impediments. Last year, the project was challenged by finance and rains, but now, work has started properly”, he said stating that the project is of high standard as the Federal Ministry of Works has high standard specification which must be followed and has a project duration of 4 years.
He also showed the Lawmaker, a massive 300 – metre Storm Water Channel at Amawom Oboro that will control water that would affect the Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal road when completed, describing it as part of the road construction project.
According to him, with the new funding agreement and guarantee from the Federal Government, the project will be completed withing two years, adding that the work is now 25% completed.
Later. the Lawmaker, Hon. Onuigbo commissioned several school blocks building and hospital buildings he built, including a 6-classrom block at Amaoba Central School 1, a 3-classroom block at Umudike Primary School and a hospital he built at Oloko, all in Ikwuano LGA.
He further inspected a skill acquisition centre project he is building at Apumiri Ubakala in Umuahia South LGA, the largest in Nigeria.
