East-West Road: RSG Debunks APC’s Fraud Allegation …As FG Moves To Review Road, Other Projects

The Rivers State Government has described as cheap blackmail, allegation by the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that Governor Nyesom Wike has defrauded the companies involved in the resurfacing of the Eleme Flyover in Onne section of the East West Road.
The Commissioner for Works, Engr Kevin K Wachukwu who cleared the air at a stakeholders meeting on the road project in his office in Port Harcourt, yesterday said that the outcome of the meeting has shown the extent to which the APC can go to deceive the public on the good intention of the state government towards Rivers people.
He said that the situation has shown that some companies have not honoured their financial obligation to the project, while some only paid less than half of their expected commitment.
The commissioner cited the case of the  Nigerian Port Authority (NPA), which has not paid any amount to the project, while Oil & Gas Free Zone Authority only paid 25 per cent of its financial obligation to the project.
Wachukwu, who praised Intels Nigeria Limited for paying 100% of its financial obligations, also called on the representatives of other companies involved in the project to prevail on their management to honour their commitment to the road project.
Meanwhile, Reoynold Construction Company Limited (RCC) has confirmed the payment of N150million by the Rivers State Government in respect of the project.
The Tide learnt that the amount represents 50 per cent of the state government’s N300million counterpart fund to the project.
The representative of RCC at the meeting, Engr Akinfewa Oyebode, also said that the company has completed 80 to 81% percent of the road project.
He said that out of a total of N3billion budgeted for the project, his company has been paid N1.850billion, and promised to deliver the project within the next four weeks, if the balance is paid.
He used the occasion to allay the fears of the partners in the project, stressing that RCC will  abandon the project if the full sum is not paid before completion and delivery to government.
Meanwhile, The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Uguru Usain said yesterday that the federal government has set up a committee to audit and review the East-West road and other projects of the ministry in the Niger Delta region.
Usain, who stated this in an interview with newsmen, yesterday in Abuja, did not however disclose the composition of the committee.
“The auditors would examine and determine whether the work was going on as specified and job done so far was commensurate with the amount of money paid to the contractors.
“There are some payments made to contractors that weren’t documented. I only avail myself the opportunity to know at the project sites during questioning. “ he said
Our correspondent reports that some of the Ministry’ s projects were construction of the East-West road and 17 other road projects across the oil producing states, which are also under construction.
Some of the 17 roads projects which are at various completion stages, are the Elele road, the Obehia-Ak­wete-Etinam road and the Gbaregolor-Ogragbene road in Delta State.
Others are the Mbaise ring road in Owerri area and the nine skills acquisition centres which are at various stages of completion, while the 250 out of the 400 housing project have been completed.

Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Dabotoriduma Adams (right), with his Deputy, Hon Stanley Marshall Uwom, during the flag-off of the reconstruction of Igwuruta-Chokocho Road, in Port Harcourt, recently.
Photo: Egberi Sampson