“Federal Ministry of Works Demands N15 Billion Monthly Commitment from MTN for Enugu-Onitsha Road Completion”
The Federal Ministry of Works has announced plans to demand that MTN commits to paying a minimum of N15 billion every month for the next 10 months to fast-track the completion of the Enugu/Onitsha Expressway. This decision comes in response to the tragic tanker explosion at the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the expressway, which resulted in the loss of several lives.
The ministry has warned that failure to adhere to this financial commitment could lead to the termination of the contract. This resolution was reached following a courtesy visit to the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, by a delegation from the Anambra and Enugu caucus of the 10th National Assembly, who were seeking federal intervention to address the delayed completion of the project. The expressway is being handled by RCC Ltd and funded by MTN under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
According to a statement issued by the minister’s media aide, Uchenna Orji, it was agreed that MTN would need to hire three contractors to handle the 79-kilometer stretch of road, within the original contract sum of N202 billion. Additionally, the remaining 72 kilometers will be awarded to other contractors, with MTN and RCC invited to submit bids for the remaining sections.
During the briefing, the minister assured the people of the South-East that President Bola Tinubu’s administration remains committed to transforming the region’s transportation infrastructure, just as it does for other parts of Nigeria. Senator Umahi expressed deep sympathy over the lives lost in the recent explosion and stressed that the people of the South-East have every reason to trust in the president’s ability to address the road infrastructure challenges in the region.
Umahi also praised President Tinubu for prioritizing the South-East politically, noting that since the president took office, incidents like farmers-herders clashes have diminished in the region. He emphasized that the president inherited over 2,000 projects worth over N13 trillion, and today, those projects’ value has surpassed N20 trillion due to the floating of the Naira and the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Senator Osita Ngwu, leader of the delegation and Minority Whip of the Senate, commended the minister for the unprecedented scale of road construction and maintenance projects across the country. However, he expressed concern that some projects, including the Enugu/Onitsha Expressway, were not receiving sufficient funding to ensure their timely completion. Ngwu highlighted that sections of the road had become a “death trap” for road users, particularly following the recent tanker explosion.
Ngwu assured the minister that lawmakers are ready to cooperate and address any challenges or bottlenecks faced by the Ministry in completing the road, stressing that adequate funding is crucial for the success of the projects in the South-East.
