The Federal Government of Nigeria has yesterday revealed that the sum of N286 billion had been paid for the dualization of the East-West Road project which is yet to be completed.
The Government said that the project was estimated at the sum of N560 billion, an amount which was an upward variation from the original N211 billion awarded in 2006 by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration.
Pastor Usani Uguru, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, speaking yesterday in Abuja at a meeting with members of the Association of Community Leaders of nine oil producing states promised the Niger Delta people that none of the ongoing projects embarked upon by the Ministry in the region would be abandoned.
He further added that; “The East-West Road is not abandoned except that work on the project is very slow. We will soon find out why the work is slow. Contractors will tell you it was because of lack of funds. But we will soon tell you our own reasons why the work is slow.
“One thing I can say is that by the budget on the road, more than N560 billion was estimated and for now, over N286 billion had been paid, which in my view should have completed the road.”