AMAC chairman urges residents to report contractors using substandard materials

The Chairman of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), in the Nigerian Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Christopher Maikalangu, has called upon residents of the council to report contractors found using substandard materials at project sites.

The chairman made this calling during an on the spot inspection of ongoing and some completed projects within the council under his watch.

While at Garki, the chairman who inspected the renovation of seven classrooms in LEA Primary School, expressed satisfaction with the work done.

Commending the council chairman and his entourage, the head Teacher, Mr Kasim Jibrin Karshi, said the school needs teachers to support the existing ones in the school.

“We don’t have much teachers. We need more teachers. We’re grateful for what the chairman has done for us by renovating the school for us. Before the renovation, we were sitting on the floor to learn. However, we now have more chairs than we need. The only challenge is the issue of teachers,” he said.

Responding, Maikalangu assured the school that they will get additional 10 teachers before the end of February, saying that the gesture is to encourage learning activities in the school in line with the vision and aspirations of the current leadership of the Council.

At Garki Primary Healthcare Center (PHC), Maikalangu inspected the renovation of the buildings, including the addition of a block to the facility.

Briefing the chairman and his entourage, Officer in Charge (OIC) of the Garki PHC, Mrs. Monica Victor Jacob expressed gratitude to the chairman, saying things are working seamlessly in the clinic, and the additional block has made the clinic look like a hospital.

“Our women now give birth in the night seamlessly because of the solar lights installed by the Executive Chairman for us, so we’re grateful,” she said.

At Durumi 3, Maikalangu who inspected the construction of a 3 classroom block with office and toilets was angry with the contractor for using inferior ceilings for the construction and demanded their replacement with modern ceilings.

He also inspected the ongoing construction of 600 metres road project with dual drainage ways.

Maikalangu also inspected the ongoing construction of a PHC in Durumi 3.

In Waru community, Maikalangu inspected an ongoing Waru-Yimitu road project with a dual drainage system made up of two phases, while phase 1 is 1.5 kilometers, phase 2 is 1km.

Similarly at Galadimawa, he inspected an ongoing construction of 300 metre road with dual drainage.

At Gosa, Maikalangu inspected a 2.4km completed road project with dual drainage system.

Showing his appreciation, a community member, Mr. Nuhu Auta, said economic activities are thriving in the community because of the road project, noting that the council chairman has done well and needed to be supported at all time.

“We were used to dust and quagmire in this community, but now there is a tarred road and streetlights. We want Maikalangu to go for a second term. He has done well for us. Maikalangu is a man of the people,” he said.

At Toge community, which is just immediately after Gosa along airport road, Maikalangu inspected a completed 1.5 kilometer road with dual drainage.

A community member, Ayuba Ishaya, said the community has never witnessed such a development, adding that Maikalangu has provided electricity and road and has no comparison.

He begged the chairman to construct a health centre for the community, lamenting their pregnant women suffer before giving birth.

While the inspection train had a stop over at Sabo Lugbe, where the chairman inspected a completed 1km road project, he addressed the media, saying all the projects are sited in rural communities for them to have a taste of dividends of democracy.

He said: “Having gone through the projects today, I can say they are 80% completed. I am glad that almost all the projects were done well. The only place I was not happy was Durumi 3 Primary School. I was not happy with the ceiling used by the contractor at the primary school.

“Nevertheless, all the projects are sited in our rural communities. In some of the communities, they had no access roads. When it rains, the roads will be impassable. So, we know that the communities need these projects.

“I also want to tell AMAC community members to help us in delivering quality projects. They should be part of the construction processes. They should monitor projects sited in their communities. If you see a contractor using inferior materials, report to me. Anywhere substandard materials are used, do well to report to me.”

At Pyakasa, Maikalangu supervised the ongoing construction of a Townhall, which was at 60% completion.

While appreciating the Chairman, the Dakachi of Kakwa Pyakasa, Chief James Shekwagu, said the community is grateful for the intervention and dividends of democracy and will vote for Maikalangu when he presents himself for reelection.

“We didn’t know that one day this community will be remembered in the delivery of dividends of democracy. Even in Kakwa, the chairman provided us with a healthcare center. He also installed a transformer for us. We are very grateful. With the healthcare center, the chairman has given us.”

Also speaking, a teacher at LEA Primary School Pyakasa, James Peter, said the school needs a perimeter fence and security to thwart the activities of vandals invading the school to cart away valuables.