The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project, RAAMP, Akwa Ibom State, has warned contractors against any form of negligence or abandonment in projects they are handling across the state.
The agency noted that it would not hesitate to revoke the contract of anyone found wanting.
The State Project Coordinator, Pastor Gideon Akpan, gave the warning during an unscheduled technical evaluation of project sites in Nsit Ibom local government area of the state over the weekend.
Akpan, who was represented at the inspection by the Lead Infrastructure Engineer, Ekong Joseph Inyang, said the agency will not tolerate unnecessary delay of projects given that it has fully mobilized and paid every contractor.
Inyang expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of contractors handling the 8.396 km Ikot Ekan-Ediene Abak Road, Ikot Isong-Edeobom II Road (3.31km) and the Ikot Itina-Oniong Road, with a spur to Nsemeke Ikpe market (2.044 km) at the project sites when the team visited, regretting that a good percentage of the job was still undone.
While stressing that the agency would take a decisive action against the contractors if they fail to come back to site immediately, Inyang warned other contractors against abandoning their jobs.
He added that the excuse by some contractors that they were overwhelmed with multiple projects at the same time would not be entertained, saying that contractors should have enough equipment and manpower that would enable them handle more than one job simultaneously.
”Any contractor handling more than one job must do so simultaneously and not one after the other.
“We have seen what is going on, it’s quite unfortunate because this project should be nearing completion stage, rather, a good percentage of it is still undone, and it doesn’t speak well of the contractor.
“We have also seen the efforts the consultant has put up but the contractor is not forthcoming, money is not a problem. We will go back home and see the possibility of getting the job terminated. This will sound as a warning to other contractors who may want to follow this way, telling them that such attitude is not tolerated in RAAMP.’’
Speaking earlier, the consultant to the project, Engr. Kelvin Ndukwu, lamented over the contractors’ absence at the project site, noting that they would have taken advantage of the sunny weather to complete their project.
He also revealed that all the monies have been paid to them and wondered why they were still absent from work even as he noted such action would not be tolerated.
“We are not happy with the pace of work because we had expected the contractor to make good use of the weather. It’s unfortunate that they are not here. We’ve written them several times, invited them for meetings, expecting them to return to site now the weather is good.
“Had it being they are here, we would have heard directly from them. We are not even owing them, so if they cannot finish the job, we terminate the contract and give to other contractor that can finish the job,” he said.
Akwa Ibom: RAAMP warns contractors against negligence, threatens revocation
