Gov Okezie Ikpeazu Denies Ordering Tunnel End Construction to Undertake Full Reconstruction of Umuaro-Ekwerazu Road

Our attention has been drawn to publications in some national newspapers captioned “Ikpeazu Orders Tunnel End Construction to Undertake Full Reconstruction of Road”.

In the said publication, Governor Okezie Ikpeazu was quoted to have made the following statement among others:

“Yes, I have received calls and complains about the poor construction on the road. I have ordered the contractor to return to site and ensure a complete reconstruction of the road. Ministry of Works will monitor what they are doing to ensure that the standard in terms of the roads that our administration is known for, is maintained.

“I am not happy about the poor job done by the contractor. There is no way we will accept that a road done by this administration failed less than on year after construction. Unfortunately, we have not commissioned the road, so they must reconstruct the road”, Governor Ikpeazu was reported to have said.

We wish to state that at no time during the relevant interview did Governor Okezie Ikpeazu make the quoted statement as his response to the question on the current state of the road was obviously taken out of context and manipulated to reflect the malicious intent of those who published the statement.

For the avoidance of doubt, Governor Ikpeazu, in the said interview, acknowledged the spotting of the road as a result of the heavy traffic it is currently taking due to the complete failure of the two federal roads linking Abia with Akwa Ibom and Cross River States.

Umuaro-Ekwerazu Road was originally designed to be a Trunk C road to evacuate farm produce from border communities but has fallen under heavy traffic due to the failed adjoining federal trunk A roads linking Akwa Ibom and Cross River States to Abia State, particularly Aba – Ikot Ekpene federal highway and Umuahia – Ikot Ekpene federal highway.

The Governor mentioned in the extant interview that the contractor, Tunnel End Construction Company Ltd, has been directed to return to the site to execute palliative measures on the road pending when the state can fund full reconstruction to take the current high traffic. At no time did the Governor complain about “poor quality of job done by the contractor” and never mentioned any individual involved in the contract as he is well aware that the contract is strictly between the company and Abia State Government.

We wish to restate our confidence in Tunnel End Construction Company Ltd and its management team as the company has continued to partner with us to deliver quality roads according to designs given to them.

Thank you.

Chief John Okiyi Kalu

Honorable Commisioner for Information, Abia State
1/9/19