The Acting Chairman Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC), Mr Victor Muruako, has called on the federal government and the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to increase funding of federal roads in the country.
Muruako made the appeal during his tour of federal government road projects in Akwa Ibom on Wednesday.
The acting chairman particularly expressed displeasure on poor funding of Mbak Atai – Ikot Ntuk – Mkpeti – Oku Iboko road project in Itu local government area of Akwa Ibom.
He said that the project, which was first awarded in March 2013 by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs was stopped due to poor funding.
Muruako said that the contractor, Jukok Nigeria Limited has shown competence to complete the job with the availability of funds.
“I want to use this opportunity and appeal to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Federal Government to articulate some of these projects that are having financial challenges and find ways they can complete them before awarding new ones.
“This particular project is the people’s project. It is located in the core Niger Delta area where the people need this infrastructure for their day to day life.
“You can see the challenges they are going through. You can even see the confusion. I want to use this opportunity and call upon the Federal Government to fund the project of Mbak Atai – Ikot Ntuk – Mkpeti – Oku Iboko.
“It is a critical road that would touch on the people of Itu Local Government in Akwa Ibom.
“It is obvious that some of these projects are conceived with beautiful ideas and good intentions but the funding is a different thing,”Muruako said.
The chairman urged the people of Itu to remain calm and assured them of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to complete the road project.
“I know that President Muhammad Bubari has good intentions particularly in his next level programme. The people of Itu Local Government, Mbak Atai – Ikot Ntuk – Mkpeti – Oku Iboko will definitely reap the dividends of democracy.
“This president is a president that insists that the right thing be done. We are very confidence that he will ensure that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs fund this particular project so that the people can enjoy it, ” he said.
