Ebonyi Commissioner Dismisses Project Variations, Says Vanco Junction Flyover, Tunnel To Be Completed In Designated Time
By Alex Odeh, Pan Afric Reporters
The Ebonyi State Commissioner for Works, Engineer Stanley Lebechi Mbam, has disclosed that despite the rainfall, encountering of rocks and other unforeseen challenges, that the 4.61km Tunnel and Flyover bridge at the Vincent Agwu Nwankwo Junction would be completed in record time.
Engineer Stanley Lebechi Mbam disclosed this to journalists in Abakaliki during on the spot inspection of the ongoing construction of the Vanco junction flyover and tunnel project.
He re-affairmed the Ebonyi State government’s commitment to complete the popular Vanco tunnel and flyover projects, which was flagged off by the Minister of Works, Engineer David Umahi on May 28th, 2024 to mark the first anniversary of the incumbent Governor Francis Nwifuru.
He stated there would be no variations of the project cost owing to the challenges, adding that the project would be completed within twenty -four months starting from the date of flag-off.
According to him, on completion, the 4.61km Tunnel and Flyover bridge at the Vincent Agwu Nwankwo Junction would transform the economy of the state, while appreciating the Governor for the project.
He said, “We thank His Excellency for his lion heart and his massive innovation and his People’s Chatter of Needs which he came on board with as a governor of a Ebonyi State.
“Today,we are recording a transformation, a transformation that is taking Ebonyi State to a mass height of development, economic and prosperities.
“We are at Vanco flyover which is one of his signature projects. This is a flyover that has a tunnel which is up to about one kilometer tunnel and we have a bridge which is about 28 span bridge.
He said though, some people were saying the government under Nwifuru Francis was moving in slow pace, but that a lot of projects had been completed, adding that the government was not interested in commissioning every single project on completion.
“Now we have recorded progress and in progress which I have confidence that within the three years in office, these initiative which are turning into reality will be fully manifested. Yes, people may say you are slow, you are doing this, you are doing that. Yeah, my brother, the government have completed a lot of projects.
“We have completed a lot of projects. Governor will always tell you that you’re not going to spend the money that is equivalent to do one kilometer road to come and commission a road that is less than a five kilometer road for everybody to be seeing that he is commissioning project.
“Yes, we are not, we are not ignorant of the importance of media and trying to project activities of the government and we are doing our best. Yes, today we are in this flyover. We are standing in the tunnel and we are standing in middle of the tunnel.
Mbam explained that the flyover and tunnel would be a center of attraction because it was structured to connect all the axis of the junctions surrounding the flyover and tunnel.
“This is the center of the attraction. At this place I’m standing now, you have a roundabout. This is the first decking and you can see what we are doing. We are preparing the foundation to carry this first decking and which is the roundabout.
“This is what connects the flyover so that you can be able to connect all the routes within the axis of this junction. And I have no doubt that in the specification that this road was designed, this project was designed.
The Commissioner further gave assurance of the quality of job executed in the flyover and tunnel, stating that he visits the site on daily basis to ensure timely completion.
“I have confidence that we are going to meet up before the time and with the quality and the assurance that I’m seeing. It is a project that I supervise daily.We have taken it as one of our priorities and that’s why you see us here morning, afternoon and night, whether rain or sun. We are here 24 hours to make sure we deliver this report of need. We project that this project is 24 months and I believe within that 24 months it will be completed.
“You can’t suspect any variations because with the pace we are going, even now because of the rainy season which is inevitable, we met some challenges which we already foreseen. We met challenges in this particular section where we met rocks that we needed to blast to make sure we get the desired design depth so that we can place our foundation.
“But we can see we have already overcome these challenges and I bet you within the shortest time, within the designated period of time that this project was designed, I’m sure it will be completed”, he assured.
