The Senate on Tuesday intervened in the continued failure of successive administrations to complete the East-West road which has lingered since 2006.
To do this, it set up an ad-hoc committee in line with its resolution to adopt a motion on “Urgent Need for Construction of Onne,Eleme communities Axis of the East-West Road.”
Sponsor of the motion, Senator Mpigi Barinada (PDP-Rivers), in his lead debate said the decision of government to seek alternative sources for funding critical national projects increased the stock of infrastructure.
He said this was to grow the nation, through initiatives such as private sector partnership, SUKUK funds and the NNPCL Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme .
Continuing Barinada explained that the 7 km stretch of the Federal Government trunk A road , a major economic artery in the Niger-Delta region which traverses the Eleme -Ogoni corridor and also connects the South – South ,South -East and the Western parts of this country, remains moribund.
He said despite spending huge funds on the project, such a critical national project, if abandoned, would bring untold hardship, neglect and exacerbate sufferings and pain on the people.
He said there was a need to consider the attendant loss of revenue that would have accrued to the government given the abandonment of the project.
He said there was a presence of critical infrastructure and industries located along the road corridor which include two refineries, two petrochemical industries, an Oil and Gas Economic Free Zone, a Deep-Sea Port NPA and many other businesses and industries that contribute huge sums of needed revenue for the nation.
The Lawmaker called for consideration on the detrimental effect of the abandoned road on the social and economic experience that has affected the well -being of the affected communities and potential risks posed to human lives and local economy.
Senate thereafter in its further resolution said the ad-hoc committee would be inviting the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Works and Housing, Niger -Delta Affairs, Petroleum Resources and Finance, Budget and National Planning
Others are the Group Chief Executive Office of NNPC Ltd, the Managing Director of RCC Construction Company and any other relevant stakeholder, to present detailed information on reasons for prolonged delays and abandonment of the project.
Other information to be provided include the current status of the contract and progress made thus far, challenges faced by the contractor in executing the project to avoid future delays.
They are also expected to provide information on measures to address the socio-economic impact of the abandoned road on the affected communities, plans, timelines, and strategies to ensure completion of the project within a reasonable timeframe.
It also said the stakeholders thereafter would ensure the prioritization of the East-West road project and allocation of necessary resources and support to enable its speedy completion.
The ad-hoc committee has Sen.Abdul Ningi (PDP- Bauchi) as Chairman of the Committee, while senators Osita Ugwu, Sharafadeen Alli Adams Oshiomole, Abubakar Sadik, Mpigi Barinada,among others were listed as members of the committee.
