By Kelvin Obambon
A socio-political group, Cross River South Consultative Forum, has appealed to the federal government to as a matter of urgency, revoke and terminate the construction contract for the Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene federal road awarded to Sermatech Nigeria Limited over the company’s lack of technical expertise.
The Forum made the appeal in a statement dated 28th November, 2023 which was jointly signed by Hon. Barr. Eyo Nsa Ekpo (Chairman), Hon. Barr. Joseph E. Etene, Rev. Hon. James Anam, Hon. Victor E. Okon, Sir Maurice Effiwatt, Hon. (Chief) Ani Esin, Hon. Mrs. Ada Charles Egwu and Prof. (Barr.) Emmanuel Eyo.
According to the group, the contract for reconstruction and dualization of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway was awarded by the Buhari-led APC Federal Government in
2017.
“This road which links the sister States of Cross River and Akwa Ibom to the South South, South East as well as other part of the Federation is of utmost importance as an evacuation corridor for commuters, goods and services to other parts of the country.
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“A greater section of this 97 Kilometer Federal Highway (approximately 50 kilometers) was awarded to an indigenous construction company known as SERMATECH NIGERIA LIMITED. The aforesaid section is the most difficult and most technically challenging section of the project. It spans from Ikot Nyong in Onim Ankiong Ward of Odukpani Local Government Area, Cross River State to Oku Iboku in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. It has five major
bridges and a web of intricate swamps and estuaries on both sides of Ayadehe River, Okpokong River, Cross River and Calabar Rivers making this section the most difficult part of the project in construction terms.
“Sometimes in December, 2021, it came to the knowledge of Stakeholders of the project made up of NIGER DELTA YOUTH MOVEMENT (NDYM), CROSS RIVER SOUTH PROGRESSIVES FORUM (CRISPROF) and HOST COMMUNITIES ON DUALIZATION OF ODUKPANI-ITU-IKOT EKPENE FEDERAL HIGHWAY, CROSS RIVER STATE, that a greater and most technically challenging part of the project was awarded to SERMATECH NIGERIA LIMITED and a red flag was raised.
“In a Joint Press Conference (see copy attached), the above Associations called on the then Minister of Works to immediately and forthwith terminate and revoke the contract awarded to SERMATECH NIGERIA LIMITED. Their reasons for this is as stated hereunder:
i. SERMATECH NIG. LTD lacks the necessary requisite experience in the construction of roads and bridges in Nigeria. SERMATECH was dully challenged to contradict this assertion by publicly publishing her company profile.
ii. The section awarded to SERMATECH NIG. LTD is indeed the most difficult part of the project with a web of intricate swamps and five (5) major bridges which SERMATECH NIG. LTD has no expertise nor pedigree to handle.
iii. The only prominent road SERMATECH NIG. LTD handled in Cross River State is the Goodluck Jonathan By-Pass from Margaret Ekpo International Airport to Parliamentary Road Extension, Calabar. The entire stretch of that Road failed within six months of construction requiring Cross River State Government to continuously spend millions of Naira in taxpayer’s money on yearly maintenance to make the road at least passable. This is an intra-city road with very low traffic usage.
iv. The various Federal Intervention Construction works awarded to SERMATECH NIG. LTD failed within three (3) months of completion. A good example is the failed culvert at Ikot Effangha Mkpa, Calabar Municipality and that of Iwuru, Biase Local Government Area both on Calabar-Ikom Federal
Highway. These failed projects carried out by SERMATECH NIG. LTD are there for all to see.
v. Due diligence by Government would reveal that SERMATECH NIG. LTD lacks the competence, manpower, pedigree, technical expertise and most importantly the equipment necessary to carry out the construction of roads in such difficult and swampy terrains as well as the bridges across Calabar River, Okpokong River, Cross River and Ayadehe River which are all within the section awarded to her.
“Two years down the line, fears expressed by these group of patriots have been made manifest by the utter lack of capacity and gross incompetence of SERMATECH. The lack of progress on the portion of the project awarded to SERMATECH is manifestly glaring, palpable and painful. Trucks and trailers are falling over each other, blocking the road, causing accidents and severe injuries to commuters and generally making the road impassable. The suffering experienced by average road users passing through this section of Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Federal Highway is better imagined than experienced.
“We commend the effort of the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Out, in ordering immediate palliative work on the said sections of the road to ameliorate the suffering of our people. We salute you Sir.
“Let us state here unequivocally that we are not unaware of the vested interest of some failed politicians and unpatriotic Cross Riverians who are the powers behind SERMATECH NIG. LTD, foisting this incompetent indigenous construction company on the Federal Government. These persons are responsible for
the tears Nigerians are shedding on that road on a daily basis. Nigerians are watching you.
“In light of the foregoing, we hereby join the aforementioned group of patriotic Cross Riverians in calling on His Excellency Dr. David Umahi, Honourable Minister of Works to as a matter of URGENT NATIONAL IMPORTANCE, revoke and terminate the contract awarded to SERMATECH NIG. LTD and re-award same to a more competent company to complete this project within time,” the statement reads.
