Road Projects Assessment: Group lauds Anambra Governor

The Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), on Saturday, applauded Anambra state Governor, Chukwuma Soludo for paying an unscheduled visit to the sites of ongoing road projects and conducting an on-the-spot assessment of the work being done.

The Chairman of CLO in Anambra, Mr Vincent Ezekwueme, gave the commendation while speaking with Journalists in Enugu on the importance of on-the-spot assessment of projects by governors to ensure value for money.

Ezekwueme noted that it is good for governors to see things for themselves and get feedback from citizens to ensure improved service delivery and sustainable development in the country.

According to him, an unannounced visit and on-the-spot assessment is a step in the right direction and a thing that will ensure savings and prudent management of the meagre resources of the state.

He also observed that it is the kind of thing that will ensure the welfare, well-being, and protect the interest of the citizens.

“It will be recalled that CLO had earlier lamented the poor execution of Niger Street and some other road projects on the Onitsha axis of the state.

“To the glory of God, the governor, out of his patriotism and interest for the welfare of the citizens, visited the site and discovered negligence, lack of capacity, not keeping to the timeline and strict adherence to the agreement reached on the part of the contractor.

“This led to the on-the-spot termination of the road contract awarded to a contractor working in the Onitsha axis of the state recently.

“We thank him (Soludo) for his courage, political will and capacity to do the needful to ensure in words and actions that Anambra people’s money must be judiciously used for the public good.”

The CLO boss said that the governor had rekindled people’s confidence, trust and hope in good governance as the termination of the contract is a clear indication that the contract was transparently and prudently awarded.

This, he said, was a clear signal to other contractors that it is no longer business as usual as public funds must be use for public good.

“It is pertinent for the governor to sustain such impromptu visits to other government contracts, agencies, schools, markets, hospitals and parks in order to see the true pathetic and despicable situation of things in the state.

“In order to continue the urgent transformation and reformation of the state, Gov.Soludo should urgently establish Projects Implementations Monitoring and Verification Committee that will be made up of people with impeccable character and integrity that will give him honest feedback.

“Gov. Soludo has demonstrated great disdain for kickbacks having kicked out an unprepared and underperforming contractor,” he added.

NAN/PIAK