The Federal Ministry of Works has given a stop-work order to a construction company allegedly hired by Senator Ifeanyi Ubah to rehabilitate the Nnewi-Ozubulu-Okija federal road in Anambra State.

Ubah represents Anambra South Senatorial District in the Senate.

The FG’s stop-work order followed an enquiry made by the Anambra State Ministry of Works through the Federal Controller of Works in the state on whether he gave an approval for the road rehabilitation.

But the controller said it was not to the knowledge of the Office of the Federal Controller of Works, Anambra State or to the Minister of Works that an approval was granted to work on any highway in the state.

In a letter dated November 4, 2020, Mr Ezeala Chidi of the Federal Ministry of Works said, “It has been brought to our notice that your construction company, Toshel Construction Ltd, is presently carrying out some palliative works on the above named road.”

The state Commissioner for Works, Marcel Ifejiofor, told journalists on Friday that the construction firm did not also obtain permission from the state government before embarking on the road rehabilitation.

He said, “Before the Anambra State Government works on any federal road, it must obtain permission from the Federal Government before it starts. Similarly, before anybody works on state roads, it must obtain permission from the state government through the state Ministry of Works and our engineers have to supervise it because all our roads have a standard which must be met.

“If anybody wants to do any road in any community, it must involve the traditional ruler and the president general, who will then inform the ministry of works.”

PUNCH