The Federal Authorities has ordered the instant suspension of reconstruction works on the Eleme-Onne part of the East-West Highway in Rivers State.
The Minister of Public Works, David Umahi, made this identified on Sunday whereas talking with journalists in Port Harcourt.
Umahi mentioned the order grew to become essential as a consequence of the usage of substandard supplies by the contractor executing the undertaking.
Whereas noting that he had inspected the work the day prior to this (Saturday), he additionally expressed unhappiness over the gradual tempo of labor even after the federal government paid an advance of N33 billion.
The minister defined that work needs to be stopped as soon as some irregularities associated to the undertaking are resolved. Given the tempo of labor by the contractors, the work can’t be accomplished inside 5 years.
“The undertaking should profit the individuals. In two months the wet season will come and the individuals will proceed to undergo.
“You have got our (FB) N33 billion. Are you aware what the month-to-month curiosity on the account is?
“The President needed to order me in September to come back right here and order the fee as a result of some individuals in Rivers State went to go to the President and now we have paid you N33 billion from then till now,” he mentioned.
He additional mentioned, “I noticed that the sand they use just isn’t river sharp. What we paid for is river-sharp sand.
“I'm not glad. The thought is that once you put the lumps, the lump could be good. However once you put the sharp sand, there are some voids between the lumps.
“And so the sand will begin to fill it and it turns into a compact monolithic paving construction. After I noticed that sand, I wasn't pleased.
“And I took that sand and put it on my palm and poured water and I squeezed it, and on the finish of the day there was nothing left.
“That confirmed that it was very clear. So I directed that the corporate needs to be written and that they need to be certain that they take away the sand.”
Persevering with, he mentioned: “I used to be very shocked that as a substitute of eradicating the sand that they had continued with the sand.
“The contractor carries out the job, however at a snail's tempo. If we give him one other 5 years, he received't make it to the top. So we're not going to permit him to do this.”
Nonetheless, he mentioned a gathering has been scheduled with the contractor to evaluation the discrepancies after which the errors could be regarded into and the brand new timeline could be given to make sure the undertaking is accomplished.
