By Kelvin Obambon
In a swift reaction to recent calls for the revocation of its contract, SERMATECH Nigeria Limited has dismissed claims of incompetence, describing the “vote of no confidence” passed by certain stakeholders as the work of individuals pursuing personal interests.
Speaking on behalf of the indigenous construction firm, the Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ita Ayi Asuquo, in an interview with reporters in Calabar on Wednesday, challenged the technical basis of the criticism, asserting that the company has shown more resilience and commitment to the Odukpani-Itu Federal Highway project than its multinational counterparts.
A central pillar of SERMATECH’s defense is its unprecedented community engagement strategy. Asuquo revealed that the company has prioritized local security by directly empowering the youth, a move he claims has transformed Odukpani from a “hostile place” into a stable working environment.
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“In our payroll, there are 60 youths in Odukpani who have been benefiting from a N30,000 monthly stipend for the past four years,” Asuquo stated. “These were not just any youths; these were those capable of causing chaos. We brought them together, showed them this is a community-friendly company, and integrated them into our workforce.”
The PRO noted that while other contractors typically maintain one Community Liaison Unit (CLU), SERMATECH has established three to ensure every local interest is captured.
Addressing the progress of work on the road, Asuquo pointed out that while multinational giant Julius Berger eventually pulled out of its section of the project, SERMATECH remained on-site despite significant financial challenges.
“If you go and verify, it got to a point where Berger had to pull out. But what did SERMATECH do? They stayed to prove quality and relevance,” he said. He further argued that the road from Odukpani Junction to Calabar-Itu, which was previously dilapidated for decades, is now motorable, reducing travel time to approximately 20-30 minutes.
He emphasized that the firm has continued working “rain or sun” and even during holiday periods like December, despite not receiving payment from the federal government for over a year.
Responding to allegations regarding the non-payment of compensation to property owners along the Right of Way (RoW), the company clarified that such payments are legally the responsibility of the Federal Government, not the contractor.
“It is not the responsibility of a contractor to pay compensation. It is the duty of the Federal Government,” Asuquo clarified. He further revealed that the firm has been actively “pushing” the government to fulfill these obligations and noted that during the previous administration of Governor Ben Ayade, the state government had even attempted to intervene with palliative payments for those whose properties were impacted.
The company maintains that the recent outcry does not represent the views of the majority of Odukpani residents. According to the PRO, the critics lack the “technical know-how” to defend their calls for revocation.
“I believe the Minister of Works understands the truth because he has inspected this project at least three times. These people coming out to say these things are just a small circle trying to make themselves relevant,” Asuquo added.
The firm stated that if the broader youth population of Odukpani were polled, they would pass a “vote of confidence” in SERMATECH for its dedication to local development and its status as a high-performing indigenous company.
The SERMATECH spokesperson concluded by attributing delays in the progress of work on the road to paucity of funds, noting that the project which was initiated during late President Muhammadu Buhari administration, now inherited by the current government, had to undergo bureaucratic bottlenecks before funds could be released.
