Some farmers in Aladja community in Udu local government who spoke to Fresh Angle on condition of anonymity have accused Panama Construction Company, a firm allegedly owned by Ijaw National leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark of being wicked following the abandonment of the 10.5km Aladja-Isaba road project awarded by Delta State government.
The project which was awarded in 2008 has been abandoned since 2009, making it almost impassable for small cars, while farmers transporting their produce from Aladja to Isaba community in Warri South West local government are undergoing difficult times.
Our Senior Correspondent who visited both communities recently to see things for himself, reports that people of Aladja now call the road which is in a deplorable state Lake E.K. Clark.
In a swift response however, Manager of Panama Construction Company, Mr. Emmanuel Bidokwu, dismissed accusations leveled against his company, saying that it’s a move to destroy their reputation. “We are aware that there are some people who want to destroy our name. The irony of it all is that these people are aware that we were not given any mobilization and that (sic) we have not been paid for work done”, he declared.
Mr. Bidokwu averred that his company did not abandon the project, stressing that they can only go back to site, “when the balance of the certificate we got for work already done is paid”.
According to him, his company was not paid any mobilization before commencing the job, noting that even when they worked and got certificate for payment, his company was not paid until after a year or two.
Mr. Bidokwu further explained that his company got a loan from First Bank, Ughelli, early 2010, worked on the road and got a certificate of over N28million, but only received payment from Delta State government two months ago.
He also revealed that his company worked and got certificate of N64.2million since October 2010 for the construction of Skill Acquisition Centre, Ogbe-Ijoh and has not been paid till date.
It was not immediately clear as at press time if the unstable political romance between Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and Chief Edwin Clark, who allegedly owns Panama Construction Company has anything to do with the abandonment of the Aladja-Isaba road project, but there are evidences of several road projects abandoned in Delta State, with many insinuating that fund is a major factor.
Source: Fresh Angle