FG, Abia Govt Collaborate to Complete Umuahi-Ikot Ekpene Road, Federal Controller

The Federal Ministry of Works has revealed that contractors engaged by both the Federal Government and the Abia State Government are currently working simultaneously on the reconstruction of the Umuahia,Ikwuano–Ikot Ekpene Road to ensure its timely and successful completion.
The Federal Controller of Works in Abia, Mr. Chidi Uwaeziozi, disclosed this in an interview with our reporter in his office in Umuahia on Tuesday.
Uwaeziozi said that the Federal Government’s contractor, Hartland Civil Engineering Construction Company, remains on site alongside the Abia State Government’s contractor, Geld Construction Company.
He confirmed that the Abia State Government only took over the rehabilitation of the 25-kilometre Phase Two of the 49-kilometre road project.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier approved the handover of the project to the Abia State Government, a move seen as demonstrating the Federal Government’s commitment to addressing long-standing infrastructure challenges in the South-East.
Governor Alex Otti of Abia in October last year flagged off the rehabilitation of the road, which had suffered years of severe deterioration, with the aim of boosting economic growth, improving connectivity, and promoting rural development.
However, the continued presence of the Federal Government’s contractor on the site had raised questions among members of the public regarding whether the project was truly being handled by the Abia State Government.
Reacting to the development, Uwaeziozi clarified that Hartland was currently working on the remaining 1.5-kilometre stretch of Phase One, located between Isiala Oboro and Ogbuebulle communities, both in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia.
He acknowledged that the project, which was initially awarded to Hartland in 2019, had experienced several delays due to funding constraints and compensation-related challenges.
Uwaeziozi further disclosed that sections of the road within Abia territory that required demolition of structures and the payment of compensation formed part of the portion handed over to the State Government.

“The projects are scoped in such a way that we can only execute the portions for which funds are available.
“So, the contractor carries out the work and we pay him accordingly.
“However, because Phase Two was no longer captured within the active scope of the Federal Government’s contract, that was where the State Government stepped in.
“Our own contractor, Hartland, still has an active contract under Phase One and therefore has the obligation to complete that section.” he said.
Insideoutnews reports that the contract for the project was awarded to Hartland in 2019 at a cost of ₦13 billion, with a completion period of four years.
The project was attracted by Chief Sam Onuigbo, who represented the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency in the 8th and 9th National Assemblies.
Meanwhile, Onuigbo has expressed gratitude to the Tinubu-led administration for demonstrating renewed commitment to the completion of the project.
He explained that the continued presence of the Federal Government’s contractor on site indicated that the Federal Government remained determined to complete the road for the benefit of commuters from the South-East and other parts of the country, extending towards Cameroon.
Onuigbo recalled that the road had become completely impassable until he raised a motion on the floor of the House of Representatives in 2016 and subsequently followed it up with the then Minister of Works, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
He commended the cooperation between the Federal and Abia State Governments toward the eventual completion of the project.
“It is a welcome development that the State Government has decided to take over a section of the road, which covers about five villages up to the main border with Akwa Ibom.
“The Federal Government has already completed the other section from Ikot Ekpene to Obot.
“With this development, the road will now become smooth and accessible for several purposes — for travellers, tourists, and even those rushing to the airport,” Onuigbo said.