Group Demands Julius Berger Sack over Calabar-Itu Road Project

 

A socio cultural organisation, Cross River South Consultative Forum, has accused the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi of insincerity concerning the construction of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene highway linking Akwa ibom and Cross River State.

The group made the accusation in Calabar, Cross River while addressing a press conference at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre.



Chairman of the group, Barrister Eyo Nsa Ekpo recalled that in December 2023, during a meeting in the Works Minister’s office in Abuja, Engr. Umahi promised to set up a tripatihe committee compromising members of the group, the contractors handling the road and staff of the ministry, especially those from the Calabar office.

Barr. Ekpo regretted that more than a year after the Minister is yet to set up the committee to tract and monitor development on the road.

They debunked the Minister’s allegation at a Town Hall meeting in Calabar, last year, that the group was instigating the locals against Sermatech.

They also alleged that Umahi has entrenched interest in Sematech, one of the contractors handling the Odukpani-Calabar axis of the road, which is also one of the most difficult terrain along the highway.

According to group, Sermatech which is handling the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja Road for the past 10 years has notoriety for poor quality work, slow pace of work and uncompleted work. They pointed out the the Goodluck Jonathan Boulevard in Calabar, constructed under Senator Liyel Imoke administration was handled by Sematech and 10 years after the road is impassable.

Though Julius Berger has reputation for quality work, the Consultative Forum wants the Minister to terminate the company contract and reward it another firm that is ready to work because Julius Berger has abandoned the construction of the Odukpani axis of the road for more than a year.

Describing the state of the road as a national embarrassment, Barr. Ekpo lamented that the Calabar Otu road is a source of untold hardship to the people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states. Despite numerous promises and assurances from the Federal Government, particularly the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi, this critical road remains in a deplorable state, posing grave dangers to motorists, commuters, and businesses.

The forum demanded that contractors handling different sections of the road, including Julius Berger and Sermatech, must take responsibility for their roles in the current state of affairs. While Julius Berger has a reputation for quality road construction, its pace on the Odukpani -Itu-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway has been disappointingly slow and they have abandoned site for more than a year now.

“Similarly, Sermatech, which was contracted for some portions of the road, must be held accountable for delays and subpar work. General opinion on the state of work, particularly on the concrete pavements constructed by Sermatech, is that apart from the slow pace of work, the pavements lack depth and are riddled with honeycombs and vibrations. It won't stand the test of time. We call on Sermatech to revisit and possibly rectify this immediately.

We state with no iota of equivocation that our stance and advocacy on the construction of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway is borne out of pure patriotism, as earlier noted by the Honourable Minister himself when we visited him in Abuja in December 2023. We hold no ill feelings towards the construction companies handling the road. All we demand is quality work and absence of delays, because our people are truly suffering.

They forum demanded: ‘Urgent and full-scale rehabilitation of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene
Federal Highway - the Federal Government must prioritize this road and take immediate steps to ensure it completion.

“Honouring the promise of the tripartite committee - Engr Dave Umahi must fulfil his commitment to constituting the committee, allowing stakeholders to track progress and ensure accountability.

“Accountability for contractors - Julius Berger and Sermatech must provide clear explanations for the delays and take urgent steps to accelerate the project.

“A clear and transparent timeline - the Federal Government and the Ministry of Works must present a realistic timeline for the road's completion and adhere to it.

“Termination and/or revocation of the contract with Julius Berger and re-award of same to a company willing to continue construction.’

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