“You Must Commit N15b  Monthly Or…” – FG Warns MTN

By Suleiman Anyalewechi

The Federal Government of Nigeria on Saturday February 1, 2025, set the  commitment of N15 billion, monthly, by telecommunications giant ,MTN ,for the purpose of fast tracking the reconstruction of the  Enugu/ Onitsha Express way as a precondition for the continued validity of the said  contract.

This is even as the  Anambra/ Enugu Caucus of the National Assembly, expressed  serious concern  over the lip service being paid to various ongoing federal projects in the South East region of Nigeria.

At a courtesy visit by the National Assembly, Dave Umahi, Minister of Works, threatened to terminate the ongoing reconstruction efforts on the all important expressway unless the financier, MTN, makes an irrevocable payment of N15 billion monthly, over a period of ten months for the speedy completion of the road.

The visit of the National Assembly members came on the heels of the tragic tanker accident on the road last week which claimed no fewer than 20 lives and seriously injured many.

The Source reports that the Enugu/Onitsha Express way is being financed by MTN at an estimated cost of about N202b under the Federal Government’s Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.

However, the Federal Ministry of Works has severally expressed concern over the unnecessary delays being experienced in the completion of the job which is being executed by Royal Construction Company, RCC .

The delay has been attributed majorly to paucity of funds occasioned mainly by the alleged inability of MTN to meet its financial obligations .

The fatal tanker explosion at Ugwu Onyema end of the expressway, has forced many stakeholders, including the National Assembly members from the beneficiary states – Enugu and Anambra – to question the motives for the seemingly endless delays in completing the project.

In a statement issued  on Saturday by,Uchenna Orji, his media aide ,the Works Minister warned that Government will be left with no other option than to terminate the contract if parties fail to live up to the terms of the agreement reached.

According to the statement, the meeting between Umahi and the Federal Law makers agreed that about three contracting firms will be needed ,to facilitate early completion of the 79km highway.

While commiserating with the people over numerous lives that have been lost on the road, including the recent tanker explosion, the Minister, reassured of the commitment of the Federal Government towards improving the road networks in the region.

He, therefore, urged the residents of the South East Zone to have implicit confidence in the abilities of  President Bola Tinubu’s administration to transform infrastructural facilities within the area.

According to the Minister, despite many constraints, the President has  shown enough commitment in according priority to the needs of the South East region.

The leader of the visiting National Assembly members, Senator Osita Ngwu, while appreciating the high level of infrastructural renewal projects both completed and ongoing across the country, however, called on  the authorities to give adequate attention to projects being executed in the South East .

Senate Ngwu, who is the Minority Whip, regretted that most Federal projects in the Zone suffer delays in completion due mainly to inadequate funding.

He blamed the development for the monumental loss of lives recorded during the recent  tanker explosion on the Enugu/Onitsha Express way.

According to him, most sessions of the road have become death traps due to unnecessary delays in completing the project.

“We are worried that some of the projects that are ongoing in the South East are not receiving funds that can make them progress so that we can have the benefits of such projects.

“We appreciate that since the Minister assumed office, the President has graciously approved quite a number of projects in the South East.

“But when these projects are not funded, it looks like it is just a game”, the National Assembly members noted.