The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), Mr Godsday Orubebe, said on Monday that the ministry would require about N193.85 billion to complete the East-West road project in 2014.

Orubebe, who disclosed this in Abuja at a news conference, said that for the 10 per cent work already completed between 2006 and 2009, the Federal Ministry of Works had paid N33.4 billion to contractors.

He said that between 2009 when the project was handed over to the MNDA and 2012, the number of completed road projects had increased from 10 to 51 per cent.

The minister said that the purpose of handing over the projects to the MNDA was to fast-track development in the area.

The minister recalled that the Federal Ministry of Works had awarded contract for the engineering design to three consultancy firms in 2006.

He said that section one of the engineering design, from Port Harcourt to Mbiama in Rivers, was awarded to Aim Consultants at a cost of N164.20 million.

"This section is 84 kilometres long, starting from Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt and terminating at Mbiama, also in Rivers State," Orubebe said.

He said that the design of section two from Mbiama to Warri in Delta, was awarded to Corona Engineering and Consulting Nigeria at a cost of N199.54 million.

"This section is 104 km long, starting from Mbiama in Rivers State and terminating in Warri, Delta State.

"The design of section three, from Port Harcourt to Eket in Akwa Ibom, including the design of the two bridges over River Nun at Kaiama and River Forcados at Patani, was awarded to Team Nigeria at a cost of N101.08 million.

"This section is 150 km long, starting from Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and terminating at Eket in Akwa Ibom State," the minister said.

He said that Guy Otobo and Partners were also appointed to coordinate the work of the design consultants and of the actual contract in order to ensure uniformity

Orubebe said that the Bill of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation for the contracts were also prepared in four sections in order to fulfil due process requirements.

He said that section one from Warri to Kaiama (87Km) in Delta was awarded to M/S Setraco Nig. Ltd. for N64.12 billion.

"Section two from Port Harcourt to Kaiama (101Km) in Rivers/Bayelsa states was awarded to M/S Julius Berger Nig. Ltd for N79.23 billion.

"Section three from Port Harcourt to Eket (99Km) in Rivers/Akwa Ibom States to M/S RCC Nig. Ltd for N35.60 billion.

"Section four from Eket to Oron (51Km) in Akwa Ibom State was awarded to M/S Gitto Constuzioni Gen. Nig. Ltd for N26 billion," the minister said.

He recalled that the projects experienced major setbacks, due to youth restiveness and insecurity in the region.

According to him, insecurity forced Julius Berger Nig. Ltd, the contracting firm handling section two to abandon site.

The minister recalled that the ministry re-awarded section two project with the scope of work unchanged, to Setraco Nig. Ltd at a cost of N29.92 billion.

He said that the ministry was collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Finance, Debt Management Office and Federal Ministry of Justice to source for alternative funds to complete the projects.