By Olaleke ASHAFA
The Minister of State for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Mustapha Shehuri, has cautioned the contractor handling the rehabilitation work on Yola – Hong – Mubi Road project against delay in service delivery.
Shehuri gave the warning on Sunday in Yola during an inspection of the Federal Government ongoing road projects in Adamawa.
He expressed dissatisfaction over the slow pace of work by the contractor, AG Vision Nigeria Limited, adding that the road was critical because of its connectivity.
The minister stated that at the last meeting held with the company, the reason raised for the delay in the project was security issues and we reasoned with them.
He said the authority was not happy with the pace of work on the project because the resolution reached at the meeting was that the contractor would go back to work.
‘‘Issues of finance were raised at the meeting, but I am not sure that it is really the problem because the ministry has been making efforts to ensure that certificates are paid.
‘‘The contractor must expedite action on the project by improving on its capacity to deliver because the project is already running out of time.
‘‘Revoking contract requires some procedures and so, the ministry is not ready for that now.
‘‘We have been pushing him and will continue to push him until the work is done,’’ he said.
The minister, however, commended the communities along the corridor of the project for their cooperation towards the execution of the project.
The Federal Controller of Works in Adamawa, Mr Abubakar Salihu, said that the total length of the road awarded in 2017 was 185.25 kilometres.
He said that the project, with contract sum of N21.8 billion and 24 months completion period was 15.1 per cent completed and 88 per cent time lapse.
Salihu said that the contractor was fully mobilised to site in 2017 and had a total of N6.3 billion certificate raised in his favour.
