Senate probes abandoned roads project in Adamawa

Senate has resolved to investigate the abandonment of Mararaba-Mubi-Michika-Madagali road rehabilitation in Adamawa State which is threatening development of communities in the area.

The resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Senator Ishaku Abbo (PDP Adamawa North) who informed his colleagues that despite the payment of over N1.2 billion to the contractor, Rhas Nigeria Limited two years ago to rehabilitate the road, the project has been abandoned.

Abbo who said many people have died as a result of the poor state of the road, urged the Senate to quickly intervene.

He said the rehabilitation of Mararaba-Mubi-Michika-Madagali road which was awarded to Rhas Nigeria Limited, included the rehabilitation of three bridges disconnected by soldiers in order to fight the Boko Haram insurgents.

“Since 2017, Rhas Nigeria Limited received over N1.2 billion in three instalment. Over two years of the contract award, despite received of mobilization fee, the project has been abandoned.

“The economic activities of Adamawa have been affected by non- rehabilitation of the road. Residents live in perpetual fear of attacks because the road is in bad shape,” Abbo said.

Seconding the motion, Senator Abba Moro (PDP Benue South) noted that across the country, road contracts are abandoned with contractors not held to account.

“Most contractors especially the local ones get contracts just to grab what they want. We need to investigate it as a way of our legislative intervention,” Moro said.

Also speaking, Senator Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed (APC Adamawa Central) said some contractors belief that contracts are given to them as a share of their national cake.

She said the company must be investigated in order to ascertain whether it has the capacity to handle such a project and not just the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

In his remarks, the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan said the Committee on Works will investigate and find out why the project has been abandoned.

He, however, mandated the Committee on Works, chaired by Senator Adamu Aliero (APC Kebbi Central) to engage the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to investigate the level of work and why the project has been abandoned and report back in two weeks.