From. Sadiq Abubakar Maiduguri
Borno State Government (BOSG) has warned that henceforth, any contractor handling road and drainage networks construction work at snail speed’ such contract will be revoked.
The Borno State Commissioner of Works and Transport, Hon. Usman Zannah dropped the warning while inspecting some ongoing road and drainage networks in Maiduguri, the state capita yesterday.
Although, the Commissioner expressed satisfaction with level of work at Bulumkutu – Tsallake, Maduganari wards under construction by EEC, and CGC construction companies as well as construction of roads and drainages in Mairi, London Ciki, Dikwa Low-Cost among others under direct labour by the State Ministry of Works and Transport.
While pleasing to settle all outstanding payments., the commissioner who also visited the Lagos street dual carriageway or dualization construction work since inception of governor Kashim Shettima in 2011 was disappointed with the level of work on the busy road linking the Maiduguri city from Yolanda, Jalingo, Mubi, Gwoza, Askira UBA, Bama, Banki, Chad and Cameroon Republics contracted to HIJIAG Nigeria limited at the total cost of N3.4 billion.
He also said that if the company does not have the willingness to complete the project, he warned that, if HIJIAG failed to comply with the new directive, the contract should be revoked while directing the contractor to report to his office within one week.
It would be recalled that the Lagos street dualization project which is one of the busiest road in the metropolis was contracted to HIJIAG by the present adminstration over three years ago , it has continued to remain stagnant without reaching even 50% completion stage and with no hope of completing the road, bridge and drainage system before the end of Shettima?s first tenure.
But reacting, the Project Manager, Engineer Par Kingson lamented that due to insecurity posed by the BOKO Haram insurgents, HIJIAG Nigeria limited encountered difficulties in importing some materials needed, particularly for the completion of the main bridge linking Gwange area, and GRA gidan madara area but promised to do their best to complete the project.
However, the Commissioner drew the attention of the site Manager of the project that “emphasis should be given to Lagos street in view of its importance to the people living in Maiduguri, as all eyes are on the project”.
Zannah promised to revisit the work after two weeks because of its importance not only to the people of the state but the state government itself.
