Niger Delta: Minister urges contractors to speed up N21bn road project

By Mohammed Kandi

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Dr. Stephen Oru, yesterday urged the contractor executing the dualisation of the Owerri-Elele road to fast-track work on the project for the benefit of communities in the state and the Niger Delta region.

A statement by Salisu Na’inna Dambatta, Director of Information in the ministry said the contract for the dualisation of the 35.7-kilometre road project, which has reached 57 per cent completion, was awarded for N21.4 billion in 2010, with an initial completion period of 24 months.

The Minister, who was inspecting projects being executed by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in Imo and Rivers states together with the Minister of state for Niger Delta Affairs, Architect Darius Ishaku, emphasized that the projects he inspected were part of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan.

Dr. Oru further assured the contractors of steady funding saying the federal government is determined to complete and deliver the road within the next few months for the benefit of Nigerians plying the route.

The Minister and the Minister of State were conducted round the premises of the company executing the project by the General Manager, Mr. Muhammed El-Edaros, who showed them construction materials stockpiled by the company for use on the project once the rainy season ceases in the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, the Minister and the Minister of State have expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of construction at the Elele Skills Acquisition Centre in Rivers state, where no contractor was active on the site during the inspection visit.

He promised to take necessary steps to ensure the speedy completion of the project which was awarded in 2010.

Inspecting the housing project at Umuagwo, Imo state, the Minister expressed satisfaction at the level of completion of the estate comprising of 40 units of bungalows, drainage, asphalted internal roads, water supply and security fence.