The member representing the Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal constituency at the National Assembly, Hon. Ibe Okwara Osonwa has warned that the contractors that abandoned the Umuahia-Bende-Ohafia-Arochukwu federal road will not go free unless they complete the contract of completing the road or risk revocation of the contract.
Hon Osonwa handed down this warning in a chat with newsmen after a constituency town hall meeting held in Ebem Ohafia on Saturday, regretting that his constituents have been subjected to untold hardship by the inability of the contractors to complete the federal road.
“This road was awarded to contractors in segments in 2005 by the federal government and according to the Ministry then in 2005 for the construction of section two of the Ohafia to Arochukwu road, which comprises Umuahia/Bende/Ohafia road in Abia State at the cost of ₦12.088 billion.
“The Buhari administration re-awarded the contract in 2015 to Niger Construction Limited at ₦2, 093,033,385.88 billion with contract No 5821. Its rehabilitation had been previously stalled for about 15 years, while a jointly awarded rehabilitation project in July 2018 was given to Hartland Nigeria Limited.
“The road comprised of a distance of 45 kilometres to complement Section One which was previously awarded in 2018, that is the section from Bende/Arochukwu to Ohafia which was 19.27 kilometres, while the sum of ₦5,490,680,078.33 was then budgeted for the Bende-Arochukwu-Ohafia Road, as the sum of ₦199,475,325.00 was allotted for the Bende-Arochukwu-Ohafia Road Phase II, and to date, nothing significant has been done as contractors have abandoned the all-important road in Abia State.
“On the 31st of December, 2022, I attended a programme to support my then gubernatorial candidate and now sitting governor of Abia State, His Excellency Dr. Alex Otti in Ihechiowa. When he attended that event, both of us stood before the community and pledged to make sure that this road from Arochukwu, all the way through Umuahia would be done.
“On the first week of my resumption in office at the National Assembly, I made moves to meet the contractors doing this road, who, to date, have been very evasive. For whatever reason, the company called Hartland Construction has been very evasive, and non-responsive and I have spoken to the previous House of Representatives member representing us here, who has said, he would mediate a discussion between me and the organisation.
“Suffice it to say that if those mediations and discussions are not done, then, I would approach the minister of Works and Housing, His Excellency, Dave Umahi to have discussions with him where I will lay out my personal opinion about this company, as well as laying out my own opinion about the company to my own governor for us to take action. This is because you cannot look at the state of our roads and think that it is all well and good not doing anything.
“The state of the road has dilapidated more. We are just about to get into the Christmas period when we will all come home as we will always do as Ndigbo, We will come home and spend the festive season with our families. We cannot be coming home while also worried about the state of the road.”
On what next to do about the road, Osonwa said, “You can only start by complaining. When you complain first, you mediate. If mediation cannot be made, then if the contract has to be revoked and re-distributed, it will be done. Nobody is going to hold us hostage, no organisation.
“Every contract that is signed has a delivery time frame and financial implications to it. Now, if you have not lived up to the contract, it will be revoked. I am sorry, I bear no grudge against anybody, but you cannot come and cheat my people. and get away with it.
