The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has urged Governor Umo Eno to direct a thorough investigation on Nsit Atai-Oron road contract project awarded by the previous administration in the state.
The House took the resolution following a motion by the Chief Whip of the House and member representing Mbo State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Effiong Johnson, at Tuesday plenary.
He drew the attention of the Speaker and members of the House to the non completion of work on the road about 17 years after the contract was awarded.
He also hinted that the initial contract for the road project was awarded by the Godswill Akpabio led administration in 2006, later re-awarded by the Udom Emmanuel administration.
The lawmaker told the House that former Governor Udom Emmanuel had revoked the contract for the construction of the 29km road awarded to Renaissance Construction Company following its failure to commence work ten months after the contract had been awarded.
He added that the former governor re-awarded same project to another construction firm in 2021 “with the resolve of the government to complete the road before the end of the administration in 2023”.
The Mbo lawmaker, however, regretted that the good plans of the Udom Emmanuel administration in ensuring the completion of works on the said road could not be achieved.
He lamented that the road has currently been rendered almost impassable due to excavation by the construction firm, and has turned into a death trap, even as he stated that vehicles plying the road on daily basis have been badly affected.
Sir. Johnson pleaded that urgent steps be taken to complete the road in the interest of the general public.
In his reaction, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Elder. Udeme Otong, directed the House Committee on Works and Fire Service to undertake a fact finding visit to the road project site and as well interface with the Commissioner for Works and Fire Service on the matter.
