By Emmanuel Ekebe
About a year ago, I had written a feature on the abandoned Uzere – Umeh – Patani road and the 132/33kv dedicated line from Delta 1V to Ozoro. I had highlighted the numerous advantages of bringing the two projects to fruition to the betterment of the Isoko people.
The crux of my epistle then had emanated from the report of a high powered Isoko nation delegation to the NDDC, the agency driving these critical projects.
Like every expectant Isoko patriot, the assurance extracted during that visit had buoyed hopes to high heavens.
It was a wide and loud Halleluya for prayers answered at last. It wasn’t mere conjectures then as there were affirmative signals that both projects were primed to commence before the end of 2025.
In effect, the 16 kilometers Uzere – Patani road was to go through revocation, evaluation and re- award within the spate of time.
On the other hand, the power project that had been evaluated was to get the equipment seized by the Customs released towards installation and activation.
However, it is shocking and mind bugling that inspite of all the lofty promises, there is nothing in sight to indicate that the projects are going to see the light very soon. What a calamity!
Yes, the power project can run at any time but for the road that passes through a rough and swampy terrain, we have tactically lost yet another year as we march into the raining season.
Meanwhile, at the last check, the substantive contractor of that has not been approached for determination of the outstanding commitment before the project was stalled.
The greater worry is that after the long and tasking effort dissipated to bring these projects back into focus, its like the ubiquitous dark forces that have jinxed them over the years are not ready to let go yet.
Equally confounding is the blind silence on the state of the said third award of the road and this has given room for several speculations.
Is it the issue of budget funding, incompetence or lugubrious administrative bottleneck?
Worst of it; could it be inability to align subterranean conflicting interests?
Which ever and whatever the case may be, I think it is time for the IDU to once again activate the necessary machineries and push the NDDC to rise up to bring these projects back on stream soonest.
There’s no doubt that the Isoko people are fed up with the unkempt promises and unwarranted delays of these key projects and the time to act is now!
