The pictures attached is the Umuikaa Junction–Owerrinta Road, a 4km stretch leading to the boundary between Abia and Imo States.
Arab Contractors has been working on this road, from Owerri to Umuikaa, since 2012. They have recently returned to site, resuming work from Okpuala towards the Imo Airport.
Surprisingly, the Abia State Government jumped in and took over the road construction without any clear justification. In the process, they began expanding the road and demolishing houses that were not even close to the original carriageway.
This contrasts sharply with the sections handled by Arab Contractors, which are more solid and professionally executed, and did not require the demolition of houses.
The pictures attached herewith show a Dangote truck offloading chippings with manual evacuation, a practice that clearly depicts the involvement of a substandard roadside contractor. It is unconscionable that Abia State would award such an important road project to an unqualified contractor.
As usual, judging by the state government’s benchmark, using the Port Harcourt Road cost template, it is expected that over N30 Billion will be claimed for this 4km road, despite the poor drainage and questionable quality of work.
We therefore call on the Federal Ministry of Works to set aside clannish interests and take urgent and appropriate action against this shoddy job being carried out by the Abia State Government and its collaborators.
Chibuzo Nwosu
Isi Ala Ngwa South
