By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Sermatech Nigeria Limited, one of the companies working on the Odukpani-Itu road, has asserted that the road can be completed in less than two years if the Federal Government pays contractors and mobilises them to the site.
This was disclosed by Hon. Ita Ayi Asuquo, Public Relations Officer of Sermatech, on Wednesday, to newsmen in Calabar.
Asuquo who said Sermatech has not been paid for over a year, said also that if the Federal Government redeemed its contractual agreement, the company would complete the dualisation of the road that has been dilapidated for decades.
“For the past one year, Sermatech has not been given a kobo. If the company is given money today, I’ll tell you that the job under two years will be completed, done and dusted,” Asuquo said.
Asuquo urged the public to downplay any malicious statement from certain individuals that the company has not been doing its job properly, that despite not being paid in the past year, the company has “stayed in the job to ensure that they prove competency, they prove quality, and they prove relevancy.
“I speak with you, you can use 20 to 30 minutes to get to Itu, from Odukpani Junction. That shows you that Sermatech didn’t come to play. They came for real business. Never a day, I tell you this without reservation, never a day or any time that Sermatech had left that project, whether it’s December, when people go on holiday, they are there, rain or sun, Sermatech is there.”
He said they want to start the second lane, but there are no funds. “Where are the funds? They’re only struggling. You see them [Sermatech] battling, moving from right to left, struggling to get money to fund the project. It’s not easy.”
Asuquo said the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has visited the site on three occasions and he’s pleased with the job being carried out by Sermatech. He also pleaded with the people to have patience, since the Federal Government has promised to pay contractors.
“The Minister has visited that road project not once, not twice, and in his last visit being the third time,
he said he was going to pay and we are hoping and believing that because the Minister, I will tell you the truth, is doing well. In fact, his ideas for road construction in Nigeria are excellent. He wants better roads for Nigerian citizens,
so I believe that he’s going to do the needful,” Asuquo said.
On the side of compensation, the Sermatech PRO said it is not in the place of contractors to pay compensation but the government. He said, however, the company has played its part in employing indigenes of Odukpani, including the youths, both skilled and unskilled. He also said the company is pushing hard for the government to pay compensation as well as Sermatech so that the job can be completed in due time.
Converseer reports that since the Federal Government completely took over the rehabilitation of the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene road in 2022, State Governments have been mandated to pay compensations.
A letter with reference number: Ref. No: DHCR/NNPC/PR/VOL.I/84, signed by former Minister of Works, Babatunde Raji Fashola, on 20th May 2022, and addressed to former Governor Ben Ayade, states: “I write to inform Your Excellency that the above-named road project in Cross River State is being undertaken by the Federal Government under the Road Infrastructure Development & Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Policy to address the transportation challenges/needs of Nigerians especially petroleum tankers traversing that axis of the Country and make positive impact on movement of goods and services nationwide. Upon completion, the project would open up the State to investors, enhance the ease of doing business and support the development of key sectors of the State’s socio-economic life.
“While the Federal Government is committed to the delivery of this laudable road project, I write to inform Your Excellency that following the resolutions of the 19th meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) held on Wednesday, 20 October, 2019, Federal Govenment’s projects would be executed only in locations where the State Government has provided the required land at no cost to the Federal Government. This is because land acquisition and allocation are matters within the control of State Governments, pursuant to the provision of the Land Use Act (LUA); thus compensation claims from land owners who are residents of States are matters which are local and should be resolved by the State Governments, in order to facilitate the execution of this capital-intensive infrastructure project.
“It is pertinent to inform Your Excellency that the timely resolution of the pending compensation claims on the Dualisation of Odukpani–Itu–Ikot Ekpene Road, would facilitate early completion and delivery of the project with the associated diverse socio-economic multiplier effects and benefits, which would certainly place your State in good stead to attract more Federal Government projects.
“The State Government is requested and indeed encouraged to undertake its own independent assessment and possible negotiation of the amount of compensation towards providing the Right of Way (ROW) for the Contractor to work. The chainages that are required for the ROW range from Ch 11+000 – Ch 496+300.
“While looking forward to receiving from Your Excellency a timely, favourable response, please accept the assurances of my esteemed regards.”
Meanwhile, the current administration under Governor Bassey Otu, has made several efforts, including the provision of security and the approval of N6.9 million as compensation for demolished properties.
“With reference to the above subject, I am directed to inform you that the demolition cost will cover a total sum of N6,938,000.00 (Six million nine hundred and thirty eight thousand naira only),” a letter by TPL (Mrs.) Evelyn I. Ogbuanukwu, Director, Town Planning, on 10 December 2024, with reference number: Our Ref: ML/TCP/S/257/VOL.III/14, read.
The letter from the Town Planning office was in response to a letter by Sermatech Nigeria Limited with the title: “DUALIZATION OF THE OKU-IBOKU POWER PLANT SECTION OF THE ODUKPANI JUNCTION ITU-IKOT EKPENE ROAD IN CROSS RIVER/AKWA IBOM STATION, CONTRACT NO. 7006: REQUEST FOR DEMOLITION COMPENSATED PROPERTIES.”
Recall that in 2023, Umahi commended Sermatech for living up to expectations with its performance on the ongoing dualisation of the Calabar-Itu road.
The Minister gave the commendation in a meeting with the Cross River State Consultative Forum and representatives of Sermatech, in his office in Abuja.
The Minister, who convened the meeting to listen to the petition from Cross River State Consultative Forum, notified that he had in the past nursed erroneous sentiments against Sermatech until he visited the site, maintaining that he is impressed with the 40 per cent work rate already achieved by the construction giant.
Discrediting Cross River State Consultative Forum’s petition, Umahi stated that rather than contemplate revocation of Sermatech’s contract, it should be encouraged as the only indigenous company that has continued to work on the Calabar-Itu Highway, carrying palliative interventions beyond its contractual areas free of charge, adding that “before any calls for revocation, parties agitating must first visit the site and not resort to maligning the good image of the company.”
He confirmed that the quality of work was very satisfactory.
Converseer further reports that other companies, including Julius Berger, working on the road have pulled out, due to non-payment of contractors by the Federal Government.
