Calabar-Itu Road: Works Minister Commends SERMATECH's Performance

By Jesam Ofem

The Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has expressed satisfaction at the performance of SERMATECH on the ongoing remediation work on Calabar-Itu Federal Highway.

The Minister made the expression, Wednesday, during a meeting with the Cross River State Consultative Forum and representatives of SERMATECH Construction Company, in his office in Abuja.

Engr. Umahi, who called the meeting to listen to petition from Cross River State Consultative Forum, informed that he too had erroneously felt bad blood for SERMATECH until he visited the site few months ago, noting that the 40 percent work rate already achieved by SERMATECH is a pleasurable exhibition of commitment to contractual obligations.

Discrediting the Consultative Forum's petition, the Umahi noted that rather than revoke SERMATECH's contract, it should be encouraged as the only indigenous company that has continued to work on the Calabar-Itu Highway, carrying palliative interventions beyond its contractual areas free of charge, adding that "before any calls for revocation, parties agitating must first visit the site and not resort to maligning the good image of the company." He confirmed that the quality of work was very satisfactory.

He berated the group for not visiting the site and getting their facts right, and castigated them over the illusion that indigenous companies like SERMATECH do not have the requisite skill, equipments and personel to undertake dualization and brigde projects.

Umahi, in company of some members of his management team, also corrected the misinformation ladened in the Forum's petition, with a graphical presentation of the 28.6 kilometers awarded to SERMATECH (from the Power Plant to Oku Iboku in Akwa Ibom) and clear demarcation between SERMATECH and Julius Berger.

He drew the attention of the Cross River State Consultative Forum to the Benin Bypass/Agbor Road, where SERMATECH has been working on yet-to-be-paid basis, describing the company's gesture as a nationalistic ideal.

The Minister praised SERMATECH for continuing work on the road even when other companies working on same road had all pulled out for financial remuneration. He appealed to SERMATECH to continue work as Federal Government is poised to completing the Calabar-Itu Highway as a very important economic corridor between the South-Southern states of Cross River and Akwa Ibom and yheir South-Eastern neighbours.

The tripartite meeting had the delegation from Cross River State Consultative Forum led by Barrister Eyo Ekpo, in company of Hon. Victor Okon, Chief Ani Esin, Prof. Emmanuel Eyo, Hon. James Anam, Sir Maurice Effiwat and Hon. (Mrs.) Ada Egwu.

The SERMATECH delegation comprised Mr. Isioma Ezi-Ashi, Managing Director - SERMATECH, Engr. Joe Ukpata and Engr. Iheanacho Chibueze.

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