…You Are not Anyhow Better-Group Replies Assembly Members
Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
Ebonyi State House of Assembly Joint Committee on Infrastructure, Project monitoring and evaluation has berated some stakeholders of the State and other Indigenous contractors over substandard Jobs, negligence and other unpatriotic acts that has jeopardized the completion and commissioning of the 2 kilometer road projects across the various communities awarded to them by the State Government.
Members of the committee expressed their dismay over the poor performance of the stakeholders and contractors when they paid a visit to the 2km road projects in Ohaozara, Onicha and Afikpo North Local Government Areas of the State.
The Committee while expressing their dissatisfaction maintained that substandard Jobs were carried out by the contractors in all the nine project sites visited in Ohaozara and Onicha LGAs adding that some other contractors are yet to mobilize to site despite having received 30% mobilization fee immediately the contract were awarded in May 2024.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Infrastructure and the chief whip of the House, Hon Nkemka Okoro Onumah expressed the regret that many of the contractors are prominent stakeholders, personalities and indigenous contractors in the state and wondered what could be the motive behind their actions and deeds.
He lamented that if stakeholders and indigenous contractors saddled with the responsibility of delivering quality jobs to their people could melt out such treatment to the people of the State, what would be said about outsiders.
“It is highly unfortunate, regrettable and let me assure you that the State House of Assembly will not fold it’s hands and watch a group of persons or individuals jeopardize the good efforts of the State Governor.
“Our wokerholic Governor have good intention for awarding the 2km road contract across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state. The House of Assembly will not hesitate to bring the contractors to book if nothing is done immediately.
Similarly, the Chairman House Committee on Projects Monitoring and Evaluation and member representing Afikpo North East, Hon Oluchukwu Ukie Ezeali said that expectedly the contractors are supposed to have completed the earth work and clearing, completed the culverts and progressed to the main pavement work, but unfortunately, none has done up to three hundred meters of earth work out of the 2km.
“Any contractor or stakeholder that has performed below standard should be considered to be sabotaging the efforts of the present administration. The masses are expected to have started using the 2km based on Government pronouncement in line with people’s charter of needs.
“It’s regrettable to see that most contractors are lackadaisical and with a display of total unconcerned attitudes towards achieving the desired result of the present day Government.
Hon Ezeali said that a concise report will be issued, the misdemeanors of the contractors made public to the people of Ebonyi state at the completion of the oversight visit to the about 67 numbers of the 2km roads in the state.
It is more worrisome that the 9 construction sites in Ohaozara and Onicha are yet to commence work. We are therefore giving the 9 contractors an ultimatum to start work within the next two weeks. Christmas period inclusive or face the full wrath of the law with effect from 10th January, 2025.
Hon Ukie Ezeali urged the citizens of Ebonyi State both at home and diaspora to continue to support Governor Nwifuru led administration and assured that the House of Assembly will ensure the contractors complete the 2km roads before the end of 2025 first quarter.
The contractors involved include Kriclev Concept Nig, Ltd, Ceno kendo Nig Ltd, Ceclo Nigeria limited, Adino Construction Company, Vegan Project limited, Veneco Global, New Edition Security Construction Company, Edidon Construction Company.
Meanwhile, the State Coordinator of Ebonyi Transparency and Good Governance Movement, Comrade Ifeanyi Ugwu said that members of the State House of Assembly are not anyhow better from the stakeholders and indigenous contractors.
In an exclusive interview with Everyday News, Comrade Ugwu maintained that most of the lawmakers also carry out substandard Jobs in their different Constituency projects while others abandon the projects.
“Kettle cannot be calling pot black. When you visit most of the constituencies and see the projects many of them embarked on, you will observe that such projects are also substandard while others abandon the job halfway. We are yet to witness the energization of some of the streetlight project done by some of them.
Governor Nwifuru rather than award contracts or give out constituency projects to people that will do shoddy jobs and jeopardize his good intentions for the people, he should rather execute the project through the ministry and ensure constant monitoring of the projects.
Many of the stakeholders, indigenous contractors and lawmakers see the contracts awarded to them as political patronage. Most cases, because of their high profile, nobody queries them.
