To Save Funds, A’Ibom Govt May Ban ‘Emergency’ Road Contracts • As Govt Mulls Gas Stations

The Akwa Ibom State government is to ban the award of road projects in the name of emergency road construction. Such projects were usually not budgeted for and were not subjected to competitive bidding.

Rather than award such emergency road projects, all contractors will henceforth have to go through the bidding process for every job, TNN has learnt.

It was also learnt that virtually all jobs to be undertaken by the state government would be subjected to the bidding processes to allow for transparency.

TNN was also told by an ally of the governor that in the coming days, contractors would now have to get financial support for the execution of jobs awarded to them from a consortium of banks that are putting funds together for the purpose.

The essence is to ensure that contractors do not go lobbying commissioners or other top government officials before they can get paid for jobs done. The source said the governor, Pastor Umo Eno, was already fine-tuning arrangements in this direction and will make the plan public soon.

The source who said he was not officially empowered to speak on the matter noted that under the Eno government, efforts would be made to cut down on the cost of executing projects, while also ensuring transparency.

Meanwhile, TNN has been informed that the governor is equally considering modalities for the set- up of gas stations in the state to enable people use gas instead of fuel for their vehicles, in view of the rising cost of fuel.