Tinubu installs CCTV, Solar lights from Enugu to Onitsha; gives pass mark to MTN

The Minister for Works, Engr. Dave Umahi has disclosed that the federal government is doing a CCTV camera on solar lights in all the federal highways, including the 107 kilometers roads, starting from Enugu to Ontisha which fixing of the solar lights has progressed up to about five kilometers from Abakpa junction to 9th mile and will terminate in Onitsha.

The Minister also awarded a pass mark to the Mobile Telecommunications Nigeria, MTN, and its sub-contractors on their improved performance in the rehabilitation of the 107 kilometers Enugu-Onitsha expressway in the south east geopolitical zone.

MTN, using its sub-contractors, are executing the road rehabilitation under the tax credit scheme agreement the federal government reached with the telecommunication company, with over 35 kilometers already completed since the President Bola Tinubu administration.

Umahi said that the road rehabilitation was subdivided into four sections with one section of the road (Abakpa- 9th mile) being done on concrete pavement by a different contractor, but that the sections being handled by the MTN contractors are doing fine.

The minister made the commendation in Enugu, on Saturday, after inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation of some of the south east federal roads by his ministry.

Umahi said, “We came into Enugu-Onitsha road, a very problematic road, but has been clipped 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 have never worked on that road, but it is only by the audacity of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with determination and love for south east people that is bringing that abnormal situation to a halt.

“It’s a project of 107 kilometers and MTN was having the entire project of N202 billion before under MTN tax credit and we came onboard, MTN had already done project of about N50 billion and what we did because of the floating of the naira and the subsidy removal, the prices went up and so what we did was to discope the project within the limit of what is available within that N202 billion and that is what the MTN is doing and their sub-contractor is 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 it and we set April 28 for completion. The balance of that work is about 72 kilometers, scattered in about four sections and that is what we came out with the first two sections, 15 kilometers and 18 kilometers which has to do with concrete. I want to announce that in the next two weeks, the 15 kilometers carriage way would have been completed, left with shoulders and we just directed that next week solar lights should be completed in the first five kilometers.

“But we are also considering giving out to SKC the task of solar light for the 107 kilometers, jumping sections where the Anambra state government had already put solar lights. That project is going to be a project to behold and all credits will go to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his commitments 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 and we continue to say that the south east people should be very grateful to him because that which 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 what he is doing, but even if you are in the dark, you will definitely feel it because the roads are properly being paved.

“So, SKC is doing very wonderful work, we are happy with Nigercat, we are happy with RCC, where they didn’t do well we have told them and they are going to make amends. The second section with concrete, 15 kilometers has also been started with RCC, we saw what they are doing and we are happy with what they are doing. The other two sections will be done with asphalt and since the two sections are not so terrible we have to count one before we count two. The section that is very bad, we have to do it first, before we go to the one that is okay.”