Nigerian govt owes Enugu-Port Harcourt road contractor N2.1b

The Nigerian government’s indebtedness to construction companies handlingcontractor handling the old Enugu-Port Harcourt road now stands at N2.1billion.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the contract sum is N13.9 billion and that only N3.3 billion has been paid to the contractor, Setraco Nigeria Limited, so far.

Southeast Area Manager, Setraco Nigeria, Fouad Sarraf, said inadequate funding was a challenge.

According to him, some verified work done have not been paid for.

He said: “The government has paid only about two certificates of the over five certificates of the phases of work completed and raised.

“The company is being owed N2.1 billion for work verified and certificated already.

“The residents of this area have been highly cooperative and friendly with our staff as we work daily here,’’ Sarraf said.

NAN reports that the road project stretches from Enugu metropolis through Agbogugu community in Awgu Local Government Area of Enugu State to its border with Abia.

It has spur routes to Mmaku and other communities in the local government area.

Southeast Project Verification Team Leader at the Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Charles Abana, said the Federal Government was committed to completing all ongoing road projects in the region.

He spoke when he monitored the ongoing rehabilitation of the old Enugu-Port Harcourt Road project.

According to him, the Federal Government wished that the projects were completed on time, but owing to the COVID-19 and other economic challenges, the completion time of the projects had to be rescheduled.