Akwa Ibom urges equity in federal roads contracts for states
From Aniekan Bassey, Uyo
AKWA Ibom State government has urged the Federal
Government to take steps to correct the present imbalance in the award of contracts for federal road projects in the states in the country to ensure justice and instil confidence in the present administration.
Deputy Governor, Obong Chris Ekpenyong, made the call in Uyo, the state capital, during a tour of the state by members of Sub-committee on Works of the Federal House of Representatives.
He expressed displeasure over the neglect of the state over the years in such road contract awards, especially the past four years, despite its enormous contributions to the wealth of the nation.
He said: "It is a matter of regret that over the past four years, Akwa Ibom has been absent on the road network map of the Federal Ministry of Works for no just cause despite her enormous economic contributions while others gain in billions of road projects, and thus we plead for a reverse of the trend".
The deputy governor also voiced out the frustration the state was facing in embarking on federal road rehabilitation without being reimbursed by Abuja adequately.
Said he: "Presently, it is discouraging to note that after we have expended about N3 billion on repairs of federal roads in the state, the Federal Ministry of Works only approved a paltry N360 million to be paid by instalment".
He, however, praised the Federal Government for awarding a contract for the Ibagwa Bridge in Abak and Obot Akana to link the Eastern states through Umuahia.
Earlier, the Committee Chairman, Mr. Chris Enai, said the tour was designed to check the high spate of abandoned federal projects or non-implementation of same nation-wide despite being appropriated for.
Enai said the House was giving teeth to its oversight functions by ascertaining the state of projects previously deemed to be undertaken in previous budgets. This is to allow for judicious articulation of next year's budget to ensure a realistic exercise.
He praised the state government for the enormous road construction/ rehabilitation work so far undertaken in the state.
Other members of the committee are Dr. Esio-Okung Udo, Mr. Emma Bassey and George Sekibo.
