Nasarawa State House of Assembly has directed Governor Abdullahi Sule to stop further payment to the contractor handling the road in the Akwanga Local Government Area over poor execution of work for the interest of the people of the State.
The Chairman House Committee on NASIEC, Multilateral, Cooperation and Community Development, Mohammed Okpoku, gave the directive while inspecting the 13.45km Rinze-Ngare-Ancho Baba-Andaha road in Akwanga LGA and 16.9km Kofar-Gwari- Bakin Ayini-Amba road in Kokona Local Government Area of the State.
Okpoku who led other members of the committee for the inspection of the roads said that 85 percent of the money received by the contractor out of the N209.3m contract sum does not tally with the work done so far.
“To be sincere, we are not happy with the work done by the contractor handling the 13.45km Rinze-Ngare- Ancho Baba- Andaha road.
“The contractor said he received 85 percent of the total contract sum, which means it renaming only 15 percent payment, the work done did not tally or match with the money received by the contractor.
“We are calling on the state government to henceforth stop giving the contractor his remaining balance until he does the needful.“
He called for the overhauling of the Ngare- Ancho bridge to save the lives of people and boost their socio-economic activities while explaining that the committee was out to ensure that the projects were done according to specifications for the overall development of the State.
“We are out to ensure that quality works are done to justify the state government’s huge investment in rural development.
“And we want to ensure that no contractor short-changed the government.“
He said that the construction of the roads would not only boost the socio-economic activities of the people but would also improve the revenue base as well as improve the standard of living of the people.
“As this will create job opportunities and discourages rural-urban migration in the state,” he stressed.
The chairman commended the contractor handling the 16.9km Kofar Gwari- Bakin Ayini- Amba road for a good job done and urged him to maintain the standard while the work last.
Okpoku assured of the committee’s readiness to ensure that all the ongoing construction of rural roads is done according to specifications.
He also urged the Bureau for Rural Development to intensify efforts in supervising contractors to ensure that good jobs are delivered.
He commended Governor for the construction of roads among other projects across the State.
The Director of Engineering, Nasarawa State Bureau for Rural Development, Engr. Timothy Katsa, said that the 13.45km Rinze- Ngare- Ancho Baba- Andaha road was awarded at the cost of N209.3 million for 3 months.
He commended Governor Sule for embarking on rural road construction towards improving the standard of living of the people.
Engr. Andrew Simon, the contractor, of Sergio Construction Company Limited, handling the construction of the 13.45km Rinze-Ngare-Acho Baba-Andaha road said that the company has received 85 percent of the total contract sum of N209.3 million.
“We have received N85 percent of the total contract sum, the remaining 15 percent and I want to assure of quality works.
“The contractor also assured us that the work will be done according to all specifications.”
Also, the contractor, Forest Engineering Company Ltd, Engr. Samuel Adeleke, handling the construction of 16.9km Kofar-Gwari- Bakin Ayini-Amba road in Kokona Local Government Area said that the work is at 70 percent completion.
“We have received N180 million of the total contract sum of N240million for the road construction,” adding that he would do quality work.
PIAK
