US EMBASSY NOT OPPOSED TO FCDA PROJECT —OFFICIAL

The United States Embassy in Abuja said on Wednesday that it was not opposed to the on-going Federal Capital Development Authority road project near its rented property in the Asokoro District.

The Embassy's Information Officer, Mr. David Renz, told the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja that 'the US Embassy in Abuja does not oppose the FCDA road project in Area D in the Asokoro District of Abuja.'

Renz was reacting to an allegation that the embassy asked the FCDA's contractor to discontinue work on the project.

'We will be in touch shortly with appropriate government officials to clarify any misunderstanding that might have arisen about our views on this project,' he said.

NAN reports that the Engineering Services Department of the FCDA had alleged that the embassy asked it to discontinue work on the construction of the road.

The Chief Resident Engineer of the project, Mrs. Elizabeth Oricha, had briefed members of the FCDA Board, who were on a tour of facilities in the territory.

'The US Embassy asked the contractor handling the project to discontinue work on the portion of the road passing by its rented properties or in the alternative divert the road,' Oricha said.

She said the embassy complained that the road would constitute a security risk to occupants of the apartment.

Oricha explained that the project, of which 90 per cent of the work had been done, had been put on hold by the contractor, Messrs SCC Nigeria Ltd. on the orders of the embassy.

'Apart from the portion passing by the rented apartment, which is yet to be laid with asphalt, the road project had reached 90 per cent completion,' Oricha said.

She said the contractor was able to achieve so much in two years in spite of the fact that it had four years within which to complete the project.