Ben Ezechime, Enugu
The Federal Government of Nigeria has begun the installation of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and solar lights from Enugu to Onitsha in Anambra State along the expressway.
The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, disclosed this in Enugu on Saturday, adding that the Federal Government was installing CCTV cameras powered by solar lights on all federal highways, including the 107-kilometre Enugu–Onitsha Expressway.
According to him, the fixing of the solar lights has progressed up to about five kilometres from the Abakpa-Nike Junction to the Ninth Mile Corner and will terminate in Onitsha.
The minister also awarded a pass mark to Mobile Telecommunications Nigeria (MTN) and its subcontractors for their improved performance in the rehabilitation of the 107-kilometre Enugu–Onitsha Expressway in the South-East geopolitical zone.
MTN, using its subcontractors, is executing the road rehabilitation under the tax credit scheme agreement reached with the Federal Government, with over 35 kilometres already completed since the President Bola Tinubu administration.
Umahi said the road rehabilitation was subdivided into four sections, with one section of the road (Abakpa–Ninth Mile) being done with concrete pavement by a different contractor, but noted that the sections being handled by the MTN contractors were progressing well.
He said: “We came into the Enugu–Onitsha Road, a very problematic road, but it has been tackled by the ingenuity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his determination for the South-East.
“The previous governments never worked on that road. The past eight governments never worked on that road, but it is only by the audacity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with determination and love for the South-East people, that this abnormal situation is being brought to a halt.
“It’s a project of 107 kilometres, and MTN initially had the entire project valued at N202 billion under the MTN tax credit scheme. When we came on board, MTN had already executed projects worth about N50 billion. Because of the floating of the naira and the removal of subsidy, prices went up, so what we did was to descope the project within the limit of what was available within the N202 billion, and that is what MTN is doing. Their subcontractors are Nigercat and RCC.
“We are satisfied with what they have done. Where we have objections, we have told them, and they are going to amend them. We have set April 28 for completion.
“The balance of the work is about 72 kilometres, scattered across about four sections. We identified the first two sections—15 kilometres and 18 kilometres—which involve concrete pavement.
“I want to announce that in the next two weeks, the 15-kilometre carriageway would have been completed, leaving only the shoulders. We have also directed that next week, solar lights should be completed within the first five kilometres.
“We are also considering awarding SKC the task of installing solar lights along the 107 kilometres, skipping sections where the Anambra State Government has already installed solar lights.
“That project is going to be one to behold, and all credit will go to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his commitment to the people of the South-East.
“It will be quite interesting to note that all the nightmares on that road will come to an end under President Tinubu. We continue to say that the South-East people should be very grateful to him because what we have been expecting has come to pass, and for me, that is the Biafra we are looking for, and that is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“What he is doing in the South-East, you need to open your eyes to see. But even if you are in the dark, you will definitely feel it because the roads are being properly paved.
“So, SKC is doing very wonderful work. We are happy with Nigercat, we are happy with RCC. Where they did not do well, we have told them, and they are going to make amends. The second section with concrete, 15 kilometres, has also been started by RCC. We saw what they are doing, and we are happy with it. The other two sections will be done with asphalt, and since those sections are not as terrible, we have to count one before we count two. The section that is very bad has to be done first before moving to the one that is okay.”
