Poor Financing Reason for Delay in Benin-Auchi-Okene Road Construction, Says Ex-minister

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The immediate past Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mr. Clem Agba, has attributed the delay in the construction of the Okene-Auchi-Benin highway road project to poor financing.

Fielding questions from journalists in Benin, at the weekend, Agba however, disclosed that tax credit funding had been secured for the N75 billion road project whose contract was awarded 15 years ago.

He explained that contractors handling the projects which was in four sections, were yet to return to site because of the federal government’s delay in the argumentation (variation) of their contracts.

Agba, also disclosed that the Benin-Warri road construction which was to cost N290 billion had been approved on tax credit basis, adding that the project had been divided into three sections.

He called for a change of the Procurement Law, pointing out that the law in extant form distorts and prolong contract awards and executions.
Agba further told newsmen that he was under pressure to run for the governorship of Edo State next year, saying he was yet to take a decision as he was still consulting on the issue.
“I have the capacity and qualifications to run. If the opportunity avails itself, I will run”, he said.