FG Threatens to Terminate Enugu-Onitsha Expressway 

The Federal Government has revealed his plans to initiate a termination process of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway poor over poor funding and executive. 

The project is handled by RCC Ltd and funded by MTN under the road infrastructure development and Refurbishment investment Tax Credit Scheme. 

However, Barrister Oriji, the Special Adviser to the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, said in a statement he issued in Abuja on Thursday that, during a meeting courtesy call by a delegation from the Anambra and Enugu caucus of the 10th National Assembly to the Minister of Works in Abuja, it was resolved that MTN should pay contractors handling the project the minimum of N15 billion every month to fast-track the project and failure to do so would lead to the termination of the project.

The meeting had in attendance the Minority Whip of the Senate, representing Enugu West, Senator Osita Ngwu; Senator representing Anambra Central in the Senate, Sen. Victor Umeh; Senator Okey Ezea, representing Enugu North; Senator Kelvin Chukwu, representing Enugu East, among others.

“It was resolved, among other things, that the Federal Ministry of Works would write the MTN to demand that MTN should commit irrevocably to pay contractors on the project a minimum of ₦15bn every month for the next 10 months to enable them to fast-track the completion of the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, failing which the Ministry would initiate the termination process of the project.

“It was further resolved that MTN would need three contractors to do the 79 kilometres within the original contract sum of ₦202bn.

He further said, the remaining 72 kilometers of the road would be rewarded to the other contractor through due process. 

“It was further resolved that MTN would need three contractors to do the 79 kilometres within the original contract sum of ₦202bn.”

Barrister Oriji assured the public of the President’s commitment to completing the project and transforming transportation infrastructure in the South East and he urged the South-East to express gratitude to the President for intervention on road infrastructure. 

“I assured the delegation of President Tinubu’s commitment to transforming the transportation infrastructure in the South East, just like every other geo-political zone in the country. The President has demonstrated his dedication to addressing the road infrastructure deficits in the region, and we are grateful for his efforts.

“I reiterated the need for the South East to express gratitude to President Tinubu for prioritizing intervention on roads and solving the problem of marginalization in the region. The President’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we appreciate his commitment to rewriting the story of Nigeria.” he added.