EBONYI STATE GOVT SIGNS CONTRACT FOR ABAKALIKI RING ROAD

Reporter : AMECHI ODO

Ebonyi State Government has signed a one hundred and fifty million dollar contract with four firms for the construction of one hundred and fifty kilometres of Abakaliki Ring road with its first phase covering four Local Government Areas.

At the signing of the project at New Government House Abakaliki, Governor David Umahi explained that the contract sum would be funded by African Development Bank and its partners as a loan.

Abakaliki Ring Road measuring about One hundred and ninety-nine kilometres and covering eight Local Government Areas of the state was first constructed by the then Governor of the old Anambra State, Chief Jim Nwobodo.

Its rehabilitation was undertaken years later by Governor Martin Elechi’s administration but a greater part of its portions again collapsed, prompting the administration of Governor Dave Umahi to embark on the rigid reconstruction of sixty kilometres of the road.

Governor Umahi commended President Muhammadu Buhari for aiding the state to secure one hundred and fifty million dollar loan facility for the completion of the remaining kilometres and charged the contractors to ensure that the project was done in line with specifications.

He urged the construction firms handling the project to engage at least one hundred people from the host communities and Ebonyi State while adequate security arrangements would be provided for them.

A representative of one of the firms, Mr. Dakoru Atukpa, said they were privileged to secure the contract and promised not to fail the state in the completion of the project within one year.

Representatives of the Federal Ministry of Works and African Development Bank witnessed the signing of the contract through zoom alongside traditional rulers of the benefitting communities.