By Ikhili Monday EBALU, Benin City
Edo State House of Assembly has called for the revocation of the contract awarded for the reconstruction of Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi road by the federal government to construction companies.
Speaker of the Assembly, Adjoto Kabiru made the call at Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West local government area while leading members of the house in a protest inspection of the road.
Adjoto who decried the slow pace of works on the roads by the contracting firms noted that the deplorable states of the road had hampered socio-economic development of the people of the state as well as Nigerians plying the road.
He also called for the review of the contract to the constructing firms by the federal government.
The house however summoned the contracting firms and the Federal Controller of Works, Edo state to appear before it unfailingly next week Monday at a committee of whole to explain the delay in the rehabilitation of the roads.
According to him, “it is our views as an Assembly that the contract awarded to Dantata and Sawoe, Mother Cat and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) should be revoked. Honourable Raji Fashola is a man that we respect very much. He is doing wonderfully so well as a minister of the federal Republic of Nigeria but this Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella road there is need to revisit the performance of the contractors. They are not competent.”
“We are dissatisfied with the Federal Controller of Works and we have resolved that the contractors can no longer deceive us.
“The present condition of the road was unacceptable to residents in the state who now travel through Ondo or Delta states to get to their destination. The protest on the road was to show solidarity and share in the pains experienced by travelers and motorists.
“Our over sight functions have doubled. We are now together as a team. It is unacceptable for Edo residents to travel through Ondo State when coming from Edo North.
“We are not satisfied with the pace of work and quality of jobs done. We are moving through that road. We know Edo people are suffering”, he said.
The Speaker explained that the road was awarded to four contractors with a view to complete the project in 36 months.
He explained that the level of works done by the contracting firms are far below the huge funds released to them by the federal government noting that the people of the state and the assembly members are not satisfied with the pace of works some by the companies.
Responding the principal resident engineer in charge of the Ekpoma road, Ishaku Mamri said he was not in a better position to tell the lawmakers the alleged delay for the work.
He said Dantata and Sawoe construction firm was mobilized to the Ekpoma axis of the road for palliative works to address the traffic challenges on the road.
Also speaking the project site supervisor for the firm, Suleiman Nasiru said the initial contract awarded to the firm was from Agbede in Etsako West local government to Ewu hill in Esan Central local government, adding that the Ekpoma axis was recently awarded to the company to address the perennial traffic challenges in the area.
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