While we were in deep euphoria over the benevolent act of Natasha Hadiza Akpoti by getting the axis of Ibillo Lampese Federal Highway fully overhauled with her monies just to ensure that travellers and other commuters have unimpeded access to and fro Abuja and Lagos respectively, another news of Ibillo, Igarra Auchi road’s overhaul took the media air.
The news was that NDDC assisted by Victor Arogunyo and one Pastor Momoh had begun overhauling of Ibillo, Igarra Auchi road from the Ibillo axis. Just as many likes comments were coming in giving kudos to NDDC and other facilitators, we had this one from Natasha Hadiza Akpoti;-
“Dear Kola T Sam and Victor Arogunyo,
My company is the contractor of this Ibillo/ Igarra/ Auchi project . I had to quickly influence this contract through the Federal government to enable better and safer transportation not only for the people of the Igarra/ Auchi communities but Kogi and other states of Nigeria. Basically, while Ibillo /Okene is done with my personal finances; Ibillo/ Igarra / Auchi is sponsored by the government upon my influence”.
“You shall notice the same equipments… same workforce.
Please encourage the Igarra/Auchi communities to offer the same support given to our Ibillo project.
My management team shall be on ground to interface with the security groups accordingly, God bless”.
The quotation above shows that the Ibillo, Igarra Auchi road isn’t an NDDC project but what is most disconcerting is now the claim by Natasha Hadiza Akpoti that she influences the award of the contract from Federal government to enable better and safer transportation across the Nigeria. According to Natasha her company is the contractor working on the road with same equipment and workforce that handled the Ibillo Lampese axis of the federal highway.
For clarity and information we want to state in unambiguous terms that it is caption “Auchi, Igarra Ibillo Road” and not vice-versa in the 2021 budget No.ERGP554501202 REHABILITATION/ASPHALT OVERLAY OF AUCHI IGARRA IBILLO ROAD at a cost close to a quarter of a billion naira. In 2021 Appropriation Act the same road was caption ERGP12154530 SPECIAL REPAIR OF AUCHI IGARRA IBILLO ROAD IN EDO STATE ongoing was the remark.
We also have letters written from the office of Rt Hon Peter O. Akpatason Mni. The first one dated 20th July 2020 addressed to the Chairman House Committee on FERMA to consider urgent repair on the same road as a result of heavy downpours. The second letter dated 23rd September 2021 addressed to the Hon Minister of Works, Mabushi Abuja for urgent need to return back to site since the work is ongoing drawing his attention to the fact that Yuletide is here.
The contractor who has currently moved to the Ibillo axis of the road is to the best of our knowledge known and called Webstar Construction Company owned by the Alema of Warri Kingdom, a younger brother to Uduaghan. The company moved from the Ikpeshi Egbigere axis of the road to Ibillo recently.
The Auchi, Igarra Ibillo road to the best of our knowledge is the handiwork of Deputy Majority Leader Hon Peter Ohiozojie Akpatason Mni or at best in collaboration with Distinguished Senator Francis Asekhame Alimikhena of Edo North District under which the subject matter falls.
In conclusion therefore, the entire Akoko Edo people both home and away remain grateful to Natasha Hadiza Akpoti for her efforts towards the overhauling of Ibillo Lampese Federal highway axis.
If Natasha Hadiza Akpoti calls Webster company her own, we have no objection to such claim but to say she left the numerous roads in Ebira land to come influence a road in the appropriation act since 2019 in Edo state is what marvel many.