The Nasarawa State House of Assembly has issued a stern warning to the contractor handling the ongoing rehabilitation of the 32-kilometer Adudu-Azara road, threatening to direct the revocation of the contract due to the poor quality of work and a slow pace of progress.
Mr Suleiman Yakubu Azara, the House Committee Chairman on Works, voiced his disappointment with the contractor’s performance and the lack of progress during an inspection of various road projects initiated by the state government in Awe and Doma Local Government Areas of the state, stating that the contractor has already received N1.1 billion out of the N3.2 billion contract sum and has failed to meet the project’s standards.
Azara said that the committee decided to visit project sites in order to see things for themselves and to correct abnormalities, if any.
“This visit will enable us to assess the level of project execution and work done across the state,” he said.
The house committee chairman made it clear that they would not tolerate contractors undermining Governor Abdullahi Sule’s developmental goals. He questioned the value provided by the contractor, considering the substantial payment received, and criticized the Ministry’s oversight for failing to ensure quality work.
“We are disappointed with the contractor handling the rehabilitation of the 32km Adudu-Azara road; you are not helping us or the government. Will you tell us that the over N1 billion you have received so far is commensurate with the work done? no, no, no.
“We are not also happy with the Ministry because it is its duty to supervise the contractor and ensure standard work.
“We will invoke all the necessary sections of the constitution to direct the state government to revoke the contract if the contractor failed to do the needful,” Azara said.
However, at Doma Local Government, the chairman commended the contractor responsible for the construction of the 24-kilometer Idadu-Agbashi road for their commendable work.
Azara urged the contractor to improve the quality of the lateral work on the project.
Azara then appealed to the state government to extend the Agbashi road to the Odeni Gida community of Nasarawa LGA to enhance connectivity and stimulate socio-economic activities in the region.
“What we are after is standard and quality work that will stand the test of time.
“As His Excellency, Governor Abdullahi Sule has invested and is still investing so much in infrastructural development in the state.
“He is doing well in order to improve the lives of our people and for the overall development of the state,” he said.
He urged the contractors to adhere strictly to project specifications for the overall development of the state, assuring support of the state government in delivering dividends of democracy to the people via project executions.