Edo Government Warns Contractors Against Shoddy Jobs

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

The Edo State Government has warned contractors handling various construction works to adhere to contract specifications, as it will not accept shoddy jobs.

Members of the state sub-committee on Physical Assets and Infrastructure set up by Governor Monday Okpebholo gave this warning when it visited construction sites to ascertain the level of compliance by the contractors who were awarded jobs by the immediate past administration.

Part of the committee’s mandate is to ascertain the true status of the inherited state government-owned assets, completed and ongoing projects from the immediate past government of Godwin Obaseki.

Chairman of the sub-committee, Mr. Patrick Obahiagbon, who led other members including Abass Braimah, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Mrs. Kenny Okojie, and Patrick Unopah, to various road construction sites, explained that the exercise was to ensure that road projects awarded by the past government were legitimate.  

He said it was necessary to confirm that work was ongoing and that the amounts the projects were awarded for matched the length of the roads.

The chairman also emphasised the work should meet specifications and contract terms.  

Some of the ongoing road projects inspected include the approximately 5-kilometer road stretch from Okada Avenue to Commercial Avenue, starting from the Sapele Road junction near the NNPC mega filling station.  

Also inspected was the 7.38-kilometer dual carriageway awarded to Gladtrico International Limited.

This dual carriageway is being constructed at Evbuodia, Ulemon, crossing several communities to Upper Ekenwa Road

This road project was awarded by the immediate past government to Stefanutti Stocks Wapel Limited at the cost of N11.3 billion, with N2.8 billion paid as mobilization to the construction firm.  

The project manager of the firm, Mr. Tiamiyu Ibrahim, told the committee that N4.5 billion had been paid as mobilisation to the company.

He added that the completion date for the work is February 2025.  

However, at Adesuwa Street, off Airport Road, the committee expressed concern over what it described as the outrageous N4.5 billion cost for 8.9 kilometers of 14 inner roads.

It also observed that the 2.3-kilometer road awarded to Nsik Engineering Company Limited at First Ugbor faced scrutiny due to the non-presence of the contractor, no equipment was on-site, indicating that work had not commenced.  

The committee, which also visited the Owina/Evbuotubu, Erunmwunse, Children Medical Road, and Okpe Roads, bemoaned the advanced payment of N5 billion to Stefanutti Stocks Wapel Limited, the firm handling the 8.9-kilometer roads.  

The committee noted that although the contract was awarded at the cost of N19 billion, only 15 percent of the work had been completed, despite the N5 billion advance payment.  

Also, on the lists of project sites visited are the reconstruction of Benin-Abraka road, phase 1-3, Avbodia-Uneme road and beyond, road and drainage work on Technical College Road, Benin.

Speaking to newsmen shortly after the inspection, Obahiagbon decried the lack of patronage for indigenous contractors in the state by the immediate past government in awarding road contracts.  

He disclosed that of the projects visited, only one was awarded to a firm owned by an Edo State indigene, Gladtrico International Limited, adding that the work done by this construction firm was far better than those by non-indigenous firms.  

Describing the trend as capital flight, the committee emphasized the need to patronize local contractors in the execution of projects related to internal road rehabilitation.  

He said: “We have three fundamental observations. First, we don’t see 30 percent of the contract work done here thus far. What we have seen is far less.  

“We don’t see a heavy presence on-site, and we encourage them to strengthen their presence so the work can finish on time for the benefit of the people of Edo.  

“Overall, we’re not saying that any Nigerian is unqualified to bid, win, and execute jobs in any part of Edo State, but it’s significant to note that, so far, the job we’ve seen demonstrates admirable commitment, especially by a contractor who is an indigene of Edo State.  

“There seems to have been a lot of capital flight in the state, when we know there are competent contractors in Edo that could have done the job.”