Minister stops payment on Owerri – Elele road

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs has said that he would not sign any certificate of payment for the Owerri-Elele road until a satisfactory job is done on it.
Usani Uguru Usani said yesterday in Owerri during a visit to the site of the project to assess work done by Arab Contractors, the firm handling the project that certificates of payment would be signed only when projects meet the ministry’s specification and quality as stipulated in the contractual agreement.
He therefore urged the contractors to ensure that work done on the 35.75-kms road was commensurate with the amount they collected.
According to him, 15 kms of the dual carriageway have so far been completed. He said each carriageway had 1.5 metres and 2.75 metres shoulders from Owerri to Omerelu, both in Imo.
Meanwhile, Mr Mohammed Eledarous, the site engineer of Arab Contractors, identified challenges hindering the smooth execution of the road project to include short dry season in the region and funding. Contract for the construction of the road was awarded at the cost of N21.5 billion in 2009. (NAN)