Akparawa Ephraim Inyang-eyen, Commissioner for Works, Akwa Ibom State in this interview threw more light on the issues surrounding the delay in completion of Uyo-Ikot Ekpene highway which has raised some concerns in the state recently among other salient issues in this interview with a select journalist in Uyo. Tony Okoh reports.
Question: let us know some of the projects done by Governor through your ministry since coming on board in 2015.
Ephraim: Alright let’s take it in two dimensions, one, the roads we started, finished and people are using, the roads we started that are ongoing, the roads we met and took them on that is now ongoing. There are also the ones we are doing on interventions using direct labour. For instance, to restore the beauty of Uyo as State Capital, We are intervening on 44 roads within Uyo metropolis up to Ibesikpo Asutan. By the time we finish, you can drive into any part of the city without coming into major roads like Abak road, Udo Udoma, and others. Some of the streets are ones people classified as abandoned but today they are wearing good looks. We are also remodeling Oron town to make it a befitting city and Eket town is also witnessing total remodeling and presently we are intervening in 16 roads across the city to restore the beauty of Eket metropolis. Governor Emmanuel’s Administration has a lot to showcase. In 2015 we initiated and completed the 3.5km road in Ibiono Local Government, Ikot Udom, that particular road which led to the palace of the paramount ruler received Government Intervention when the Governor visited him and could not access the palace owing to poor road, today it is a grade one road.
Inyang-eyen
In Nisit Atai Council Area, we have a road connecting the Airport and back to Ibesikpo Asutan. 3.6km started and completed. In Nung Ukim in Ikono Local Government Area, 4.61km road transverse about six villages in Nung ukim and former school of Arts and Science now College of Technology, completed and about to be commissioned. Mkpo Ukat road which was impassable and leads to the beach where you have high-quality sands which is 5km was started and completed by this administration. In Mkpat Enin council area, another 5km of road which transverses the village of the former deputy governor, Lady Valerie Ebe was started and completed by this administration. In Oron, we called it emergency intervention. One Oro with five Local Government Areas was in a sorry state. The people of Oro sent S.O.S. to the Governor and when I visited there what I saw was pathetic. We immediately intervened in over six major roads in Oron and when they were to be commissioned, the people went ecstatic in celebration. I remember the governor telling me that what we did was not enough and we returned for emergency intervene two in Oro nation, which is now ongoing. We are doing 8 roads in Oron metropolis and taking care of the rampaging flood there through good drainage systems. By the time emergency intervention two is completed, we would have done 14 roads and equally solved the problem of flood within Oron town. I will say that during the third anniversary of Governor Emmanuel in office when we will commission emergency intervention 2 in Oron, the city will pride itself as a cosmopolitan city. In Eket, there was this major job, the Eket-Ibeno road leading the Quo Iboe terminal of ExxonMobil started by the last administration, which little was done about 10%, but the incumbent administration raised funds completed that road even after commissioning, we discovered that a part of the road has massive clay deposit and if left in that condition may collapse soon. We decided to break it down and did a bridge across where we have those massive clay deposits. The job is ongoing to ensure that the road stands a test of time. In Obot Akara Local Government, which has not received much from any administration since the creation of the state, we did a 6.41km which opened up Akwa Ibom north axis to Abia State. That road has created unfettered access to both states by road users. Abia people mostly commend Governor Emmanuel for opening that road.
The two bridges along that road are almost completed too. We went to Ini Local Government Area there was minimal government presence, we took up a road that was cross many communities to Obotme and then to Arochukwu. Today, the people of Arochukwu through that road use our International Airport during the last Christmas, out of excitement the people gave out a title to the Governor, but since the Governor doesn’t take titles, a member of the state executive was asked to represent the Governor. The very first time I went through that road, I couldn’t move beyond a certain point in Ini, Akwa Ibom State, but last week, I drove by road through Ini to Arochukwu in Abia State. The major bridge there is equally under construction and by May this year, that road will equally be delivered for commissioning by the Governor. In Uyo the state capital, we discovered that majority of the adjourning and linking roads and streets were in a deplorable state.
These link roads to other major roads make life comfortable if in good shape, so we immediately intervened in all these roads within Uyo and I can assure tourist and visitors that when they are in the city, they will not be in a hurry to leave.
Good roads network and electricity makes life meaningful and Akwa Ibom have embraced both in abundance. We are doing 44 roads within Uyo to Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area. We are presently doing internal roads in college of Education Afahansit to enable them have full accreditation. Apart from all the access roads, we are equally doing the fencing and other access roads there. In Akwa Ibom State University Obio Akpa, all the internal roads and access roads are under construction. In a particular Akpa Ube road in Uyo, I discovered during my tour that people built toilet soakaways on the road and when I demanded to know why such was cited on a road, the people said they never thought a road will pass through there in their lifetime and they pleaded that the road projects continue and destroyed their septic tanks. The same applies to those who erected fences on the same road but in unison, they agreed to do away with them to have the road because it will not only beautify the town but will deflood the area. Shelter Afrique estate, Atlantic Fm road and so many others are almost completed.
At Ewet Housing Extension, Akwa Ibom Government through the Ministry of Works is doing a direct labour job in the area with 19 roads.
By the time we are done with the roads it will no longer be called extension but Ewet Housing like their more beautiful neighbors. It was called extension because there are no access roads there. There is a particular road I like mentioning all the time and that is the Youth Avenue just 400 meters road. Starting from Oron road and linked up Shelter Afrique Estate, On 17th of October 2017, the Governor attended the thanksgiving service of the Accountant General and by the end of the service, the church elders pleaded with the Governor to do the road for them and the Governor directed the works ministry to move in immediately. However, few days later while we are drawing up plans for the road, I was alerted that there were some vehicles on the road trying to stay construction and when I arrived there, they told me they were sent from NDDC to do the road but I asked for the drawing, design and award letter for the road and they said they have none of them. I called for Assistant Director Operations representing NDDC in Akwa Ibom and he told me they have no knowledge of the award and I asked them to bring the design and do the job but they never returned. If you go to the Youth Avenue today it is such a beautiful road.
Inyang-eyen
Question: But it was alleged that you use force to drive away the contractor you met on ground while clearing the site.
That was the road I was accused of using my security details to chase the NDDC contractors away but that was not true because I came down alone from my vehicle and interacted with them. I only asked them to go and get their design for the road and they left and never returned to the site. However, with our design ready and funds released by the governor, the road is 100% completed today.
We will take delivery of more in due course, the last administration did wonderfully well for Ikot Ekpene axis and Governor Emmanuel is doing well for Uyo, Eket and Oron axis to open up the state. Then with the four major cites intact, then the state will be the cynosure of all eyes.
Again the Udom Emmanuel’s administration is doing five dualise roads across the state. We are equally doing the major ring road two and three. Ring road two is 3.5km and the ring road three is 7.5km awarded to the same contractor Qumecs, but when we saw that his speed is not quite good, we took the ring road three and asked him to continue with ring road two.
The ring road three will be handed over to a contractor with more equipment and resources.
In six months’ time, we will have the roads in top shape. What this show is that this administration has the capacity to manage the state resources well. Remember that in 2016 we slipped into economic recession up till 2017 when oil price nosedived to between 35 to 40 dollars. But the Governor was able to achieve all these milestones.
Inyang-eyen
Now talking about the 5 major dualised roads, if you go to the road linking the Airport to Okopedi, then from Okopedi through the thick forest CCECC is breaking through there to Uya Uro in Oron, on completion of that road, you can access the East-West road without coming into the city. In Uyo through Ikot Oku Ikono, Julius Berger is construction 30km dualised road to Etinan roundabout and from Etinan roundabout by the right, Weschino is building 29km Etinan Ndon Uyo highway with 2 cable bridges. The cable bridges will be the first of its kind in this part of the world. By the third anniversary of Governor Emmanuel’s administration, the road will be ready except the bridges. Eket-Etinan highway road was inherited at zero points but will be completed soon.
Question: few weeks ago, there was so much tension in the state over alleged abandonment of uyo-ikot ekepene highway started by the Akpabio’s administration, what is the position now?
Ephraim: There was no time Governor Emmanuel abandoned the Uyo – Ikot Ekpene highway. The contractor firm handling it the Julius Berger has always been paid. The snag there is that the money allotted for compensation on that road has long been exhausted and many buildings are still standing in the way awaiting compensation. The money was exhausted before the coming of this administration.
Question: Was the money stolen?
Ephraim: No, I didn’t say stolen, if there was a provision of N10 that N10 was considered fully paid out while the Houses that were supposed to be paid for, so many are still left standing yet to be paid for. So this administration has the responsibility to now create means of raising more funds to pay the remaining of property owners. It took a while because you cannot review a project based on compensation. Compensation is a delicate thing that when you effect a payment and pull down a structure nobody remembers what was standing there. If you go to Ikpe Annang roundabout, there was a big two-story building standing there before which about 141 million Naira was paid, we took it down but when I passed that road a few days ago, I could not spot where the building was standing.
This administration is not willing to review a project based on compensation. In Uyo – Ikot Ekpene high way, we have a lot to do not on issues of construction but of issues boarding on compensation. If you look at the contract, Bill one is on the issue of compensation, Bill two road clearing Bill three is road construction Bill 4 is for the Bridges. Now we still have money for bill two to five, but there is no money for Bill one to pay for compensation. Go from kilometer 22 to 25 where you have Four Point by Sheraton Hotel, it is congested with houses and we will still need about 4 – 5 Billion Naira to pay out for compensation. In the Bill made available to us, there was no such money in the Bill and if you pay money to the contractor, you cannot make a request for any money for compensation. That was what was causing the delay in the completion of the road and not that Governor Emmanuel will want to abandon a road project which so much of money have been spent on and which will open up the state to neighboring states. If the Federal Government had released monies Akwa Ibom Government had spent on Federal roads in the state, that road will not have stopped at Four Point by Sheraton but will be extended to Aba in Abia State to ease movement of people and goods.
Anyone going with the story that the road has been abandoned by the Governor is never fair to him. He has never contemplated it. Our utmost concern is how to raise money for compensation without adjusting the cost of the work upward. That is the only problem on Uyo – Ikot Ekpene road.
The commissioner on projection inspection
Question: Are you considering probe of what transpired before now on the issues of compensation along that road?
Ephraim: Probing what? Compensations had been paid and buildings pulled down, are you going to raise back the buildings to see the ones that are undervalued or overvalued? It will be an effort in futility. This government is a continuation of the last government and probing it is probing ourselves. So we are not going there. We are thinking deeply if we can adjust something in Bill two of three and take out some money from the same contract and return and pay compensation on those properties. Let me tell you probe of the past administration will be a big distraction and that is never been contemplated by this government.
The Governor is determined to remain focused and get the job done within the limits of the available resources. That road remains a top priority of the Governor. The Uyo – Ikot Ekpene highway is not any subject of controversy, the allotment of funds for compensation have been exhausted and properties are still standing there, so we need more funds to be able to pay compensations and break down those properties. Don’t get me wrong, what we are saying is that to review Bill one is very difficult because if you review Bill 2, 3 and 4, it will incur additional cost. We are looking for an ingenious way of doing it without exceeding the actual value of the contract. What we intend to do is that there will be a flyover at certain point and we said that it is not necessary for now. We have a better alternative to handle the challenges at that point and money for that could be channeled into paying for compensation. I also pray like others for oil price to go up, so that we have more money to put in projects across the state and make the state attractive to tourists from all over the world.
The snag, in a nutshell, is our inability to have value from the project figures we inherited to have money to pay for compensations. However, the road is ongoing just like several others.
I want to let you know that a Local Government, Udung Uko is receiving their first Asphalted 9km road since its creation in 1996 under Governor Emmanuel’s administration.
Question: Etebi- enwang road is also said to have been abandoned, another project inherited from Akpabio’s administration why?
Ephraim: Etebi-Enwang road in Mbo council area is ongoing, it has not been abandoned. I have given the contractor a mandate that by the time we visit again, I want to see the completion of the columns on the bridge, they have put in 16 so far, but they needed about 96 columns. I have told him to finish the road while the bridge is ongoing. I can assure you that every road in this state whether started by previous administration or incumbent will be completed because the resources were Akwa Ibom money. I want to ask if these roads going on in the hinder lands are not abandoned, is it our showpiece and gateway Uyo – Ikot Ekpene road that will be abandoned?. In fact, if we have money after the first phase then we will take on Ikot Ekpene – Aba, which is about 20km in the next phase.
The completion of that road will allow Aba traders just like the people of Arochukwu to start using our Airport. With such influx of people, the entire state will be opened up and our Airport will be fully busy with its attendant positive effects on the economy of the state.
We Akwa Ibom people should give kudos to Governor Emmanuel and encourage him to do more. By the time the present network of roads are completed. Industrialization will take off fully in every part of the state.
A section of the Ongoing road project
Question: Your ministry has been accused encouraging capital flight by not utilizing the services of indigenous contractors on roads construction.
Ephraim: No. it should be the order way round, my ministry have been accused of overusing the indigenous contractors.
Before I got here, I learnt the indigenous contractors were not considered good enough for road projects, but I said if Asphalt, stone base, red earth are the same with the machinery used for road construction the same as what foreign firms use, then i insisted on using the indigenous contractors. But I charged them to live up to expectation, allow them the resources and they are doing very good jobs. Almost all the roads we have commissioned over twelve (12) of them were done by the indigenous contractors. For instance, in Obot Akara Council Area, the road project there is done by Seyan, an indigenous firm several signature roads across the state were done by indigenous contractors like Benest, Henserk and others. Given the right environment and resources, our indigenous contractors can compete favorably with their foreign counterparts. When the Governor confronted me with the NUJ road which had been in the budget for years and gave me six months to fix the road, I contracted an indigenous contractor who raised resources and fixed the road, it was after commissioning of the road that we paid Benest Engineering services for the job. No foreign contractor will do that for you. So if I have my way, I will give the bulk of jobs to indigenous contractors, allow them the resources, give them enabling environment because they too have a stake in the state. The state also belongs to them, the foreign firms yes have years of experience can also do a good job but will only do so when they have the money handy; so there is a big difference.
Again I know Akwa Ibom people are happy with what we are doing with our indigenous contractors. Of course, the profits they made from the job are reinvested back in the State. For instance, Hensek Integrated Services upon completion of Nung Ukim road empowered many people in the community, gave them boreholes and a town hall among other things.
People like Benest Engineering Services do spend his entire profit from jobs on his people. If you ask me, I will appeal that the Governor hand over at least 60% of jobs to indigenous firms because I know they will do well and anytime there is an issue, they listen and make amends without arguments or quarrel. From my personal observation on their performances, I score our indigenous contractors A1 or A plus, in fact, A Star. Kudos to all of them.
I want to say that virtually every part of the state have had good roads coverage. The few remaining ones will soon be attended to in few week’s time. The Udom Emmanuel’s government has succeeded in ensuring that dividends of democracy trickled down to every community in the state.
Question: How about the allegation of contractors, collecting money from people to get them compensation for their property.
Ephraim: That is complete falsehood or people talking out of ignorance. Here contractors don’t pay compensation. We have consultants saddled with that job. What we do is that before the compensation on any project, we video the road to authenticate the property on ground to ensure no additional property is added once job commences. We have issues where people quickly go and erect structures once they get information of proposed road project and they lose out at the end because I demolished such properties without compensation. It happed along Etinan-Ndon Uyo road and we took all of them down without paying a dime. So there is no way the contractors are involved here to take money from anybody. Look even after the affected properties have been profiled and documented, I go with the consultants to review the properties to ensure no discrepancies in the records. We must be able to defend what we are doing at all times.
Question: People say that your ministry is taking up more projects than it can handle.
Ephraim: That is not true because the Governor believes that if there are no adequate road networks across the length and breadth of the state, industrialization will not be well seated. It is his conviction that in his first term, he settles the infrastructural needs of the state, and during the second term which Akwa Ibom people had guaranteed him, he will highly concentrate on industrialization. In Economics 101, they said one of the things that attract industrialization includes good road network among others.