Why we’re embarking on thorough oversight of contractors – Delta Assembly
The Delta State House of Assembly has said that it will extend thorough oversight to all contractors handling state projects with a view to ensuring execution and completion as at and when due.
The House had also directed the management of DEUX Construction Company to appear before its Committee on Works on Wednesday, January 10, 2018, at 1pm prompt with 15 copies of every document as regards projects they are handling.
The chairman, House Committee on Works, Hon. Evance Ivwurie, in a chat with journalists during an evaluation tour on Direct Labour Ezenei Road, Standard Life Road and General Hospital Road, Asaba, said that the era of non-completion or poor execution of jobs was over in the state.
Ivwurie registered total displeasure over the road projects being handled by DEUX Construction Company. According to him, the committee was most disappointed with the company over the DLA Road which the Delta State Government has invested so much money in.
Ivwurie, who was accompanied by other members of the committee, including, Emeka Nwaobi, Emeka Elekeokwuri, and Efe Ofoburuku, said: “we are putting on record the disappointment of Deltans over the failure of roads awarded to DEUX Company”.
“The roads remain uncompleted, poorly done jobs; meanwhile, the contractor has relocated from site. Any responsible government will not take it. We will not take it.
We cannot continue to tolerate this level of impunity and substandard development”, he added. Members of the committee, who also expressed their displeasure, included Hon. Elekeokwuri, who told the company that they were putting their dignity to the test because they obviously did not construct any road.
While Hon. Nwaobi observed that all the projects “have failed”, Hon. Ofoburuku lamented that the contractor had collected more than 90 percent of funds but had done virtually nothing.
They all stressed that the contractor was apparently out to frustrate the efforts of the state Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa who has dedicated several billions to road construction in a recessed economy.
In their response, the Managing Director, DEUX Construction Company, Dr. Walter Olatunde, represented by Mr. Ajakaye Felix, a Chief Quantity Surveyor said that an outstanding sum of N717 million was being owed the company and that has affected the project completion.
He disclosed that they had 80 percent of the contractual sum and has completed 82.7 percent of the project. The DEUX representative said that some of the roads failed due to the fact that they were constantly submerged under water, an observation he alleged was duly communicated to the Ministry of Works before commencement of execution.
However, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Edafeogho, refuted the allegation that any of such observations were communicated to the ministry.
Edafeogho said that the ministry noticed that the roads failed at several portions, adding that the contractor has the liability to rehabilitate failed portions.
Nosa Akenzua, Asaba
