by Tony Icheku

Hon Sam Onuigbo Thursday proffered that the  total reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road awarded to Messrs Hartland Nigeria Ltd/ Raycon and Company Nigeria Ltd for the sum of N13,296,283,958.68 is not the same as the proposed dualisation of the road.

Onuigbo, representing Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South Federal Constituency in a post on his social media arm explained that a design had been  submitted by Hancock Ogundiya and Partners, for the dualization of the road, from the Abia Express Tower, through Akanu Ibiam road and the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road, up to Amawom Oboro, for the first phase.

''The design has been approved and we now have to wait for the availability of funds for it to be awarded. As always, we will follow up to ensure that the contract for this project is awarded.'', he stated



The full text of his post reads as follows:

1. Today, (Wednesday, June 5, 2019) representatives of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works, and Housing visited Umuahia again, as a follow up to their visit of 24th April, 2019. They were accompanied by some traditional rulers and stakeholders of Ikwuano/Umuahia North/South federal constituency.

2. The team, led by Engineer Olamide Bamgboye came for quality control survey in order to ascertain the viability of the design, submitted by Hancock Ogundiya and Partners, for the dualization of the road, from the Abia Express Tower, through Akanu Ibiam road and the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road, up to Amawom Oboro, for the first phase.

3. The information I have is that the design includes a flyover at the Abia Express Tower, to address the traffic gridlock our people always face at that part of Umuahia especially during festive periods.

The design has been approved and we now have to wait for the availability of funds for it to be awarded. As always, we will follow up to ensure that the contract for this project is awarded.

4. Let me be clear(since apparently there have been some confusions), this particular project is different from the total reconstruction of the Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene federal road, which by God’s grace and through our many interventions, has been awarded to Messrs Hartland Nigeria Limited/ Raycon and Company Nigeria Limited for the sum of N13,296,283,958.68.

5. I do not believe in chasing for something through one angle, and being acutely aware of the importance of that road to my people, my focus is to seek for several ways to ensure that we get everything we want(even if it comes in several bits). That was also why I worked hard to ensure that a completely new federal road that will go through Okwe Oboro, through Obuohia Obi-Ibere, to Nkari in Ini LGA in Akwa Ibom state was also included in the 2018 budget, to reduce the burden borne by the Umuahia-Ikwuano- Ikot Ekpene federal road. Thankfully, the construction of the Ehie bridge which will link the two states, is ongoing. That is the first phase of that particular project.

6. As a people, we must always determinedly demand for the best from our leaders. That is what I try to do in Abuja. I am always open to constructive criticisms and ideas on how best we can achieve whatever goals we set for ourselves. That is because, as I have often said, leadership is a collective responsibility.

7. It may seem so dark now, but one thing I know for a fact is that if we continue to work together, we must see the light.

May God bless us all.
Rep. Sam Ifeanyi Onuigbo (Odozi Obodo)FCIS, FNIM