ENUGU TANKER EXPLOSION: REP NNAMCHI CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE COMPLETION OF UGWUOYEAMA EXPRESSWAY



The recent tanker explosion that led to the death of 21 people so far has continued to spark reactions across board. 

The Chairman of the House Committee on Nigeria-Republic of Ireland Parliamentary Friendship Association and member representing Enugu-East Isi-Uzo Federal Constituency, Prof. Sunday Paul Nnamchi, has joined forces with 15 lawmakers to call for immediate completion of the Ugwu Onyeama Section of Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.


Prof. Nnamchi made this call in a closed-door meeting of the lawmakers from Enugu and Anambra States with the Minister for Works, Engr. David Umahi, on 29th of Jan 2025. 

The group led by the member representing  Enugu West Senatorial Zone, Senator Osita Ngwu, on Wednesday, attributed the incessant accident on the road to what it describes as a 'dangerous delay of the project'. 

He expressed sorrow over the road accident that took place over the weekend at Ugwuonyeama and which claimed over eighteen (20) lives and left many others in severe injury.


The news of the devastating petrol tanker explosion was deeply worrisome thus causing Prof. Nnamchi to sympathize with Ndi Enugu, as well as the victims' family and friends, over the tragic incident.


He assured them that his thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion and prayed that God grants the injured a swift recovery and provide the bereaved families the strength to endure this irreparable loss.


The Minister in his response, expressed his willingness to force MTN to complete the roads or risk termination of their contract. 

Engr. Umahi, in a statement, stated that the Federal Government was tired of the games MTN was playing with the contract and threatened to terminate the agreement should they continue to delay.


The meeting, which lasted for hours at the Federal Ministry of Works, Abuja, had 15 lawmakers from Enugu and Anambra in attendance, including; Sen. Kelvin Chukwu of Enugu East Senatorial Zone and his Enugu North Counterpart, Sen. Okey Ezea, Sen. Victor Umeha of Anambra Central and his Anambra North Counterpart, Sen. Tony Nwoye.Others included Hon. Onwuegbu Anayo (Aninri/Awgu/Oji River), Hon. Atu Chimaobi Sam (Represented) (Enugu North/Enugu South), Hon. Sunday Cyriacus Umeha (Ezeagu/Udi), Hon. Agbo Denis Nnamdi (Igbo-Eze North/Udenu), Hon. Nnaji Nnolim John (Nkanu East/Nkanu West), Hon. Obetta Mark Chidi (Nsukka/Igbo-Eze South), Hon. Gwacham Maureen Chinwe (Oyi/Ayamelum), Hon. Nnabuife Chinwe Clara (Orumba North/Orumba South), Hon. Agbodike Paschal A. (Ihiala), Hon. Okafor Dominic Ifeanyi (Aguata), and Hon. Prof. Orogbu Obiageli Lilian (Awka North and South).


HOW MTN GOT INVOLVED

The Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the takeover of the construction work on the Enugu-Onitsha expressway by MTN Nigeria at about N202.8 billion, under the road infrastructure tax credit (RITC) scheme.

Babatunde Fashola, the then minister of works and housing, said the approval was in line with the executive order 7 signed by President Muhammadu Buhari in January 2019.

.
With the agreement, it was expected that the telecoms giant will complete the dualisation of the 110-kilometre road.

The RITC scheme grants income tax credit to companies and individuals that provide funding for the refurbishment and rehabilitation of roads.

The scheme is a public-private partnership (PPP) intervention that enables the Nigerian government to leverage private sector capital and efficiency for the construction, repair, and maintenance of critical road infrastructure in key economic areas in Nigeria.

Participants will be entitled to utilise the total cost (project cost), incurred in the construction or refurbishment of an eligible road as a tax credit against their future Companies Income Tax (CIT) liability, until full cost recovery is achieved.

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