An indigenous construction company, Sermatech Nigeria Limited, and the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE) have criticised a group under the aegis of Cross River South Consultative Forum (CRSCF) for misinforming the public over the ongoing dualisation of a portion of the Odukpani-Itu highway being handled by different firms in the sector.

The group had, on November 28, appealed to the Federal Government to revoke the contract of the 97-kilometre road given to Sermatech. It alleged that the company lacked the expertise to handle a 50-kilometre stretch of the difficult terrain, spanning from Ikot-Nyong, in Onim Ankiong Ward of Odukpani Local Council, Cross River State, to Oku-Iboku, in Itu Council of Akwa Ibom State with five bridges.

However, in a statement issued, yesterday, by the Cross River State representative of Sermatech, Ento Edako, the appeal by the group, calling for revocation of the contract, was based on ignorance.

Contrary to the group’s claim that Sermatech was handling a 50 km stretch of the road, Edako said the company was only handling 28 km of the 97 km Odukpani-Itu highway, which cuts across Cross River and Akwa Ibom states.

The statement reads in part: “The portion that was mentioned is not within the Sermatech section. But that of Julius Berger. This portion, spanning the Odukpani junction to the Power plant area, is under the purview of Julius Berger.”