The Member Representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Uko Nkole has assured his constituents of his avowed commitment to delivering quality democratic dividends to them.
Hon. Nkole gave the assurance while answering questions on BCA TV Current Affairs Programme “Truth of the Matter” regretted that the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus affected the implementation of the majority of the capital projects he attracted for his constituents in 2019-2020 capital projects components of the respective FGN budgets while the 2021 national budget is yet to fully take -off, same for the hangover effects of the global covid 19 pandemic lockdown.
while also expressing optimism that most of the affected ongoing projects will be rolled over into the 2022 budget and that it’s a trend along the line of the 360 federal constituencies for such members that have an interest in the attraction of physical development projects.
The Federal Lawmaker who also is a member of the House Committees on Appropriation, Works and Defense, among others noted that aside from his core duties as a Legislator which includes, Bills & Motions, Oversight, and Representation, that his experience having served in the civil service of the federal government has played a vital role in the attraction of meaningful projects for his people including the ongoing rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Bende-Ozu Abam-Ohafia road through the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) for ease of vehicular circulation on that arterial road used by constituents a project that he attracted and has been with the relevant agency receiving yearly budgetary provisions since 2016 till date for its implementation and has delivered a tremendous impact in the reinstatement of the once unpopular route to the communities along that node connecting Ohafia through Abam Bende and the state capital Umuahia.
While another contract attracted through the Federal Ministry of Works and housing for the total rehabilitation of the Umuahia Bende Ozu-Abam Ohafia road he facilitated in the 2017 FGN budget though with an initial scope of about 30km that was to terminate at the Federal constituency Boundary between Abam and Bende.
While noting the need for synergy amongst the various NASS members amid different political affiliation, as exemplified by Governor Okezie Ikpeazu in respect with his existing cordial relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari, nothing that such bipartisanship exists in the overall interest of the society as that particular understanding gave rise to the award of an addendum to the existing contract he attracted in 2017 for the rehabilitation of Bende Abam Ohafia Arochukwu Road Lot 11 to now cover the contract covers the entire stretch of Bende up to Umuahia ie Umuahia Bende Ohafia Road and praised the efforts of his colleagues from ABIA NORTH and the Senate Chief Whip.While the Ohafia Arochukwu Section is also under construction by the same contractor Messers Setraco/Hartland construction company.
Hon. Nkole noted that he facilitated the completed rehabilitation of the Nmuri Bailey bridge earlier in the year through FERMA while the ongoing construction of a brand new Nmuri bridge he also facilitated through the Federal Ministry Of Works has attained over 70% job completion, adding that rehabilitation and reticulation of water at the rehabilitated Ohafia water scheme situated in Akanu Ohafia which he attracted under 2020 FGN capital project is almost completed, among others.
A caller into the program wanted to know the status of the Igwe Ozu Abam Bridge and the seeming delays on the new bridge construction site and other uncompleted projects in the constituency, Hon Nkole in his response explained that all projects as facilitated by him from the Federal Executive branch are expected to improve a lot of his constituents when completed and that the processing, award of contracts and release of funds to contractors are all the responsibility of the executive arm of government, subject to availability of scarce resources and extant laws.
He stated that governments operate and execute projects through yearly budget estimates/appropriations which are predicated on certain assumptions/projections of expected revenue accruals into the consolidated revenue fund (CRF )managed by the Federal Executive Council on behalf of Nigerians.
That once the targets are not met by the executive arm, it affects the funding of the projects and accounts chiefly to slow and delays in project implementation generally.
The covid 19 lockdown in Nigeria is a contemporary issue at hand. while assuring of his commitment to see them rolled over in subsequent budgets for possible holistic implementation.
On the Igwe Ozu Abam, bridge safety concerns caused the stoppage of work on the site, the federal Rep member noted that the quality of the job being executed by the contractor has been questioned by the relevant government agency saddled with the job supervision and until such doubts are cleared with solutions proffered that work shall recommence, which he assured he has been on top of the issues since 2018 when the observations and safety concerns were raised by the project supervisors on the said project and that he’s pushing to see that the right thing is done expeditiously.
Hon Nkole equally submitted that rehabilitation work by FERMA on the Ndi-Ojiugwo Abam Ozu Abam to FGC Ohafia section shall commence any time now as the contractor Messers Northchenya Construction Ltd on Wednesday 26/05/2021 has reported for commencement of construction and site has been jointly handed over to the contractor to the Management Team of the company Representative Engr G Adeniyi in the presence of Hon Nkole (Project Sponsor)and the FERMA Team (Supervisor)as lead by the southeast Coordinator of the Agency, Engr Okon and Engineer Nwoke the Abia State FERMA Resident Engineer.
While explaining further honorable Nkole submitted that in January 2021 through the Federal Ministry Of Agriculture Department of Rural Department he facilitated the rehabilitation and completion of about 1km asphaltic repairs of the failed portions Odonyi Road abutting the Igwu Ozu Abam river section that was in a very deplorable condition before his intervention.
while the ongoing road construction project along Amuvi Ututu Ikotokpora road he attracted under FERMA under the 2020 FGN budget too is seriously gaining traction.
He further explained that currently through UBEC under 2020 constituency project, he attracted the massive empowerment and distribution of modern educational instructional activities to pupils across the public primary schools in the 22wards of the Federal constituency that so far 19 wards have benefited while the remaining 3 wards shall soon benefit any moment from now as the respective contractors are making last minutes efforts to meet supply deadlines set by the implementation agency UBEC.
The item distributed includes chairs, tables, parade band sets, and other instructional materials stating that under his watch Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency has witnessed tremendous achievements and emphasized that implementation of budget lies solely on the Executive which he said is subject to the available resources.
In the area of youth empowerment, the Federal Lawmaker noted that he has sponsored over 100 federal jobs to the youths of his constituency and beyond, and distributed over 100 vehicles,500 motorcycles respectively between 2016and 2020.
He appreciated the state Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu for the massive infrastructural developments in the state.
Hon. Nkole while assuring his constituents that more are in the offing and said that he is on the right track in the facilitation of projects to address most of the key areas of concerns highlighted by relevant stakeholders during his maiden Arochukwu/Ohafia Town hall meeting held at the Ohafia Local Government council headquarters in 2016, where the agenda was set by all the representatives of the components village eight ( Clans Traditional rulers, President Of Town Unions, Community Youths and women.
And assured that he is on course with the agreed agenda, and they should expect more.
