Conceived some years ago for the purpose of connecting more than 24 communitiesseparated by water for several years in Akwa Ibom State, the completion of Iwuo-AchangBridge ushers in a new life for residents, writes KAZEEM IBRAHYM
AS Lagosians hail Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration for constructing the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge, the people of Akwa Ibom State, particularly residents of Ibeno community, are also rejoicing over the construction of a 600-metre bridge by the Niger Delta Development Commission across the Qua Iboe River, using an indigenous contractor.
Built by Viche Resources, a subsidiary of the Roudo Group, the Iwuo-Achang Bridge is meant to connect about 24 communities in two local government areas in the state, which had been separated by the river over the years. For decades, residents of the affected communities had to travel in boats with the attendant risks before the NDDC came to their rescue. Now, with the bridge in place, they have an alternative means of transacting business and relating with one another.
The newly constructed seven-kilometre road and 600-metre bridge connect villages like Iko, Rikang, Akata, Opolom, Ikot-Enwang, Okoroutip, Iwochang with 16 other communities. The Nation investigation revealed that before the project was completed by Viche Resources, most of the contracts awarded to foreign companies in the area were abandoned because of the swampy terrain, communal restiveness and other security issues.
Completing the project was not without some pains to the construction firm as two of its employees were abducted by kidnappers in the thick of the militancy in the Niger Delta region. But with the determination of the company’s management to end the sufferings of the people of Ibeno and open up the economy of the area, the construction of the road and bridge was pursued to a logical end.
Speaking with our correspondent, one of the construction company’s engineers, Tony Maduka, explained that the company had to cast the beams for the bridge about five kilometres away from the project site and had to transport them with barges. According to him, the company also had to travel 40 kilometres to procure sharp sand to fill the earthwork for the road.
Explaining some of the problems encountered while executing the project, Maduka said he gave glory to God that the company was able to deliver the project many people had thought was not possible. “It is now clear that what foreigners can do, indigenous contractors can also do it. The first day I went to the site, I was afraid because the place is a mangrove and swampy area, but I summoned courage that the job would be done.
“We encountered a lot of challenges while doing the job because the area is swampy. During the militancy era, it was terrible because two of our engineers were kidnapped. The project was carried out by mainly Nigerians. Most Nigerians are surprised that an indigenous contractor could build such a state-of-the-art bridge. To them, such construction could only have come from Julius Berger, Gitto, RCC, Setraco and other foreign construction companies operating in Nigeria.
“The contract has been satisfactorily completed and it is waiting to be commissioned. It is to the credit of Viche Resources and NDDC that a Nigerian company was able to undertake and complete such a challenging job while other expatriate companies given jobs in similar terrains abandoned them.”
Corroborating Viche’s development efforts, an elder in Ibeno, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it is a shame that our own government has allowed itself to be hypnotised by the ancient argument of disparity in the expertise of local and foreign firms even in the face of glaring engineering and scientific feats of our people who end up doing the job for these foreign firms.
His words: “Most of the major jobs awarded by the Federal Government and its agencies since independence have expatriate companies as 95 per cent beneficiaries. Most of these firms were companies with no history until they got to Nigeria. Their promoters only come to Nigeria with their brief cases, elegant words and confusing arguments.
“The only investment they make is their hotel bills and they end up with mouth-watering contracts. They build a portfolio of resources so extensive that it guarantees them influence and authority where they should not have it. They put down enough seed money to finance the propaganda that Nigerian contractors are not competent or disciplined. It is a shame that our own government has allowed itself to be hypnotised by the ancient argument of disparity in the expertise of local and foreign firms even in the face of glaring engineering and scientific feats of our people who end up doing the job for these foreign firms.”
Appraising the standard of the project, the Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. Christian Oboh, said encouraging local contractors to execute projects is part of the core mandate of the commission. “That is what the policy of the NDDC says because the Niger Delta area is a challenging environment. Those that must work there must have an idea of what the environment looks like. It is Nigerians who know how challenging the environment is.
“When we came here, we realised that most of the local contractors were actually not performing because they were not being paid. I can tell you that very few Nigerian contractors would put their money because of instability or whatever happens in NDDC. We reached an agreement where we singled out that particular project and many other projects that we will put under fast track. I can tell you that I am happy Viche Nigeria didn’t fail NDDC.”
Asked if NDDC was willing to extend the dualisation of the road so that the people of Eastern Obolo could benefit from the gesture, Oboh said there were plans by the commission to extend the road to Eastern Obolo. But he said the due procurement process must be followed.
Oboh said: “The process of procurement must be followed. We appreciate what Viche Resources has done. But as the managing director, I do not just have the sole power to award the contract to Viche Nigeria. If I do, I would have given Viche Resources the process a long time ago. What we have done is that we are trying to provide for it in our budget.”
The paramount ruler of Ibeno, Dr. Effiong Achianga, said the construction of the bridge had brought relief to the people. According to the monarch, there is need for government to encourage the local contractors in the construction industry so that the kind of competition the country is experiencing today in the telecommunication industry would be replicated in the construction industry.
He said: “Viche Resources impressed me with what they have been able to achieve. I was initially skeptical about their competence, but having seen what they have done here, we are all happy.
“I am appealing to the NDDC and the Ministry of Niger Delta to allow Viche complete the extension of the road to Eastern Obolo and other communities within Ibeno.”
In the mean time, the people are in joyous mood as they await the inauguration of the 600-metre Iwuo-Achang bridge.
