Obasesam Okoi|4 February 2016|5:15am
The underlying paragraphs, Cross River foremost critic and right activist, Barr. Okoi Obono-Obla, makes some startling revelations about contracts ceded to SERMATECH, a construction company reportedly owned by erstwhile Governor Liyel Imoke, for the construction of federal roads in Cross River State.
The monetary worth of these contracts are to the tunes of billions of Naira. Whereas, such amount of monies have been released by the Federal Government for the construction of Calabar-Itu-Odukpani federal road, Alesi-Ugep section of Calabar-Ikom Highway, etc why are these roads still in derelict conditions?
The present outfit is bringing these revelations to the fore to help know the true state of things as it borders on these infrastructures, etc
*'The sum of N1, 725, 852, 473.50 has been paid to Sermatech Nigeria Limited by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep (Iyamoyung-Ugep) Section of Calabar-Ikom Highway in Cross River State.
I have obtained “Engineers Certificate from the Federal Ministry of Works, Highways, South-South Department, Zonal Headquarters, Benin City, Edo State dated 2nd February 2015 in respect of Contract No. 6263 for the Rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep (Iyamoyung-Ugep) Section in Cross River State awarded to Messrs: Sermatech Nigeria Limited dated the 2nd February, 2015 signed by Engr. C.O Uzo, Director, Highways South-South showing that the contractor was awarded contract sum of N9, 168, 931, 117.50 out which the sum of N1, 309, 740, 052.50 was paid as advanced payment in December, 2014.
Also I have obtained another “Engineers Certificate from the Federal Ministry of Works, Highways, South-South Department, Zonal Headquarters, Benin City, Edo State dated 2nd February 2015 in respect of Contract No. 6263 for the Rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep (Iyamoyung-Ugep) Section in Cross River State awarded to Messrs: Sermatech Nigeria Limited dated the 25th January, 2016, 2015 signed by Engr. C.O Uzo, Director, Highways South-South showing that the sum of N416, 112, 421.00 was paid to the contractor.
So far, the sum of N1, 725, 852, 473.50 has been paid to Sermatech Nigeria Limited by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep (Iyamoyung-Ugep) Section of Calabar-Ikom Highway in Cross River State.
*The Sum of N680, 000, 00.00 Paid to SERMATECH NIGERIA LIMITED to carry out emergency major repairs along Calabar-Itu-Odukpani Road by FERMA.
The Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road is a nightmare to motorists and the people of Cross River and Akwa Ibom State because of its horrible state for the past ten years.
Recently, I stumbled on documents showing that on the 16th July 2014, a contract for the emergency major repairs of Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road ,Route No. 90 (A4-2) in Cross River State was awarded to Messrs Sermatch Nigeria Limited by the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) in the sum of N680,000,000.00 (Six Hundred an d Eighty Million Naira) with a completion period of twelve (12) months commencing from 3rd April, 2014 and to expire on the 2nd April, 2015.
On the 9th February 2015, Engr. Patrick Ikpenwa, Executive Director (East) of FERMA issued an Engineer’s Certificate showing that the sum of N367, 916, 236.90 was paid to Messrs Sermatech Nigeria Limited in respect of the work done for the period ending November, 2014.
On the 11th April 2015, Engr. Patrick Ikpenwa, Executive Director (East) of FERMA issued an Engineer’s Certificate showing that the sum of N260, 358, 415.18 was paid to Messrs Sermatech Nigeria Limited in respect of the work done for the period ending February, 2015'.
It was sequel to making public these findings that Okoi Obono-Obla was compelled to ask:
'So the question is: Why is the Calabar-Odukpani-Itu Road in such a deplorable and derelict if the sum of N680, 000,000.00 was actually paid to Sermatch Nigeria Limited to carry out emergency major repairs by FERMA?'
This is the million dollars question. This press outfit is also lending its voice to demanding answers to the above question.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroid Haven
