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….blames trend on insecurity, logistics, others
MINNA – Niger State government has given reasons for the delay in ongoing road projects across the state, expressing the resolve of the Governor Mohammed Umar Bago-led administration to ensure not only timely completion but in accordance with quality specifications.
The Governor Bago-led administration have been under attacks after he appeared on a national television, boasting that Niger State is free from security threats to investors but the are also not lacking anything in terms of dividends of democracy.
Besides claims on the television program, Gov Bago is having difficulties convincing Nigerlites why he decided to focus on projects that are of no direct benefits to the poor masses who are in the majority but chose to concentrate on constructing six fly-overs within Minna metropolis alone.
While critics, including opposition figures have faulted the administration’s concentration on roads construction which they described as, ‘wasted money for fly-overs leading to nowhere’, others simply accused the Governor of clandestinely pursuing personal gains above what would benefit the entire citizenry.
But the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructural Development, Hassan Baba Etsu, while speaking to some journalists said those who are not seeing anything good about the Bago led administration are simply being economical with the truth.
Baba Etsu, a Quantity Surveyor by training attributed the slow pace of work on urban roads, the 5 km road networks, and other major projects to logistical and other natural factors beyond the control of the administration.
He said, “The allegations that state government is owing or that contractors handling different road projects have left sites on account of not being paid is not true. The delays were largely due to natural and logistical factors beyond human control”.
The Permanent Secretary also refuted claims that some communities in Minna were asked to pay before culverts were constructed to access their homes, but promised to investigate.
Outlining several reasons behind the temporal stoppage of work the Permanent Secretary said top among the hindrances is insecurity in some parts of the state which is discouraging the construction firm which is made up of expatriates from accessing some locations and the rainy season.
Apart from insecurity, Etsu said heavy and persistent rainfall had made it impossible for work to continue on many roads as the wetty ground conditions can compromise quality and durability of the roads projects.
“Some of the contractors had reported that safety concerns forced them to temporarily withdraw their workers from project sites until the security conditions improve”, adding that the government had no choice but accept the excuses.
The setbacks notwithstanding, Baba Etsu assured that the administration maintains its zero-tolerance policy towards contractor’s laxity and non-performance, and that’s why only competent and duly verified contractors are engaged to work for the state to ensure value for money and quality delivery.
