Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Road: Residents protest abandoned project

Residents of various villages that make up Ikwuano LGA of Abia State, on Thursday, stormed the operation base of Hartland Construction Company to protest the continued delay of works on Umuahia-Ikwuano-Ikot Ekpene Federal road.

The road, which connects Abia State with Akwa Ibom and Cross River State, has been in terrible conditions, despite a contract awarded by the Federal government about five years ago.

Leading his kinsmen on what they called a peaceful protest on Thursday, Catechist Ambrose Jonah said the road contract was awarded to be completed in three years but had been delayed for five years.

He declared that “only 20% of work has been done” and called for speedy completion of the road to save his people from death, economic destruction and other inconveniences.

Jonah, who described the situation as unacceptable, told the Federal government to release enough money to the contractor to complete the job without further delay.

Another protester from Ogbuebele community, Ejim Ndubuisi said the road would split into two parts by next rainy season if not fixed this dry season.

But explaining his company’s predicaments, the Project Manager of Hartland Construction Company, Mr Egner Velya blamed it on delayed funds from the Federal Ministry of Works, budgetary allocations and rising cost of materials, begging that “our equipment will be deployed to fix the worst sections before Christmas”.

Also speaking on the situation, the Federal Contractor in charge of Abia State, Tony Onwubiko said that the Federal government was aware of the situation but assured the protesters that work would resume in full swing once funds were released to the company.

DAILY POST recalls that the Abia State House of Assembly had last week, directed the contractor to immediately return to the site within seven days or risk having parts of the road given to the Abia State Ministry of Works to execute.