The Honourable Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has warned contractors against the disruption of ongoing infrastructure projects in the FCT.
Barrister Wike issued the warning during an inspection tour of the ongoing Guzape 1 Lot 2 District infrastructure project, the Guzape Diplomatic Zone infrastructure project being undertaken by Gilmor Engineering, as well as the ongoing Road B12 in the Central Business District by Julius Berger Plc.
According to a statement by the Director of Press (Office of the Minister), Anthony Ogunleye, “The Minister observed a setback in the Guzape District project where it was reported by the contractor that a House of Representatives member, using security agents, issued a stop work order to the contractors, and warned that such actions would not be tolerated.
The Minister said it was wrong for anybody to disrupt a legitimate project being undertaken by the FCT Administration with the approval of the Federal Executive Council and urged the contractors not to heed the order.
He said anybody who has any complaints about ongoing projects should write to the FCTA and not try to use the police to stop legitimate construction work meant for public use.
According to the Minister, “We are not going to take it lightly. This is not a private project. It’s a public project being handled by the Federal Capital Territory Administration. If there is any complaint, we think that whoever is concerned should complain to us and not go and use the police to stop a legitimate company from constructing work for the use of the public, which was approved by the Federal Executive Council.
“We have directed the contractor to go back and make sure they don’t heed that so-called stoppage. They must go back and complete the work which we are expecting Mr. President will commission in May”.
The Minister who also observed an obstruction along the ongoing Road B12 in the Central Business District, reportedly caused by the Central Bank of Nigeria, said he will write to the apex bank to remove the obstruction.
Speaking on his overall impression of the projects visited, the Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and expressed the hope that they would be completed by the month of May.
The Minister said, “We are very happy with what we saw in Guzape Lot 2, which is very vast and the contractor is confident of meeting the deadline and we believe they are going to accomplish it.
“Coming to the B6 and B12 area, we are happy with the work done by Julius Berger and just like you heard, the representative of the company has said that by May, they will hand it over.
“By and large, we are very happy with what we are seeing and you can attest to the fact that since Mr. President came on board, no work has stopped in all the sites. There are so many of the sites but it will be difficult to take all at the same time. But we believe after May, before December too, some other projects will be handed over to members of the public.”
Meanwhile, the Minister also met with the contractors working on the rehabilitation and resurfacing of the roads in the Asokoro District and he expressed displeasure at the seeming slow pace of work.
The Minister said he had personally driven around the area where he saw no single equipment deployed to the project sites, except the signs of road diversions.
Barrister Wike who explained that the FCT Administration has not awarded any contract without cash backing since the inception of the President Tinubu Administration, expressed disappointment that not much has been achieved by the contractors working on the Asokoro road project, despite being mobilized.
According to him, “I have on my own gone round, I don’t see any meaningful work going on. I didn’t want to tell you that I would be coming so that you will go and mobilize and be doing as if work is going on. For the past one week I’ve been going round on my own where you put road signs on road traffic management and there is no single equipment there.
“You put those signs on road traffic management and then you think that work is going on. You get there, you don’t see one equipment. That is deceitful. I said I have to call them let them tell me where the jobs are going on. Nobody collects mobilization and then you don’t show seriousness.”
He added; “I have always said before and I will continue to say it. We will not award contract when we don’t have money. Any contract award since I came on board has cash backup. I’m not talking about before. I’m talking about since the inception of this Tinubu’s government. There is no need for awarding contracts when there is no cash back up.
“So, having mobilized you, I was thinking by now we would have seen a lot of improvements. When jobs are going on, you will notice a lot of traffic because of diversions but most of the diversions are just signs you put there maybe to say you are doing work. Maybe the equipment are parked somewhere. They are now visible. So, I would like to hear from you, about the sections each of the companies are working and where they are working, and what stage they are. I’m tired of you writing me a memo. All I want is seeing, physical presence”, Barr. Wike said.
The Minister was accompanied on the tour by the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Engr Shehu Hadi Ahmed, former Senator representing FCT, Senator Philip Aduda, and senior officials of the FCTA.
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