War on Nnewi roads, as Federal Government, Anambra government battle over contract

www.odogwublog.com reports that two contractors, one for the federal government and the other for Anambra state government are currently working on Ikemba Drive in Umudim-Nnewi, Anambra state leading to tension between the workers of the contracting firms.

The site agent of Jireh Habitation Incorporated Service, the federal government contractor, Engr Ejiga Bartholomew said that the Ikemba Drive which is a spur on Oba-Okigwe was awarded to his company in 2013 with completion duration of fourteen months.

He said the work did not commence immediately on the road due to some design issue which  was later sorted out and the project commenced in April 2014 when the 15 percent advance payment was made.

"We raised the first interim certificate to cover the amount in 2014 but further payment was not made till 2016 and the project was to take off again but for issues like augmentation of the contractual difference on the design and erosion problems." He explained

Engr Bartholomew noted that construction work was again interrupted momentarily because his firm could not continue with the original design because of the damage erosion has caused on the road and had come up with a new design waiting for federal government approval.

The site agent for Jireh Habitations said it was a surprise for his workers to wake up one morning and discovered that another contractor, IDC, Anambra state government contractor mobilized men and material to the same road and actually started working.

He said his firm has written to the Federal Ministry of Works and a team have been sent to the state to investigate the matter.

Engr Bartholomew pointed out that allowing another contractor to continue work on Ikemba Drive without any form of design would be counterproductive and would lead to a backward movement of correcting areas tampered with by the new contractor.

A staff of IDC, the contracting firm for Anambra state government, who simply identified himself as John told Authority that his company has been given specific responsibility on the road and does not need the permission of another contractor to begin work.

But the Constituency Manager of Hon Chris Azubogu, who is representing Nnewi North, South and Ekwusigo local government areas in House of Representatives who actually attracted the federal government to the road, Hon Kenneth Ndubuishi berated Anambra state government for jumping into a road without design.

He noted that there are many roads in Nnewi and other parts of the state that the administration of Chief Willie Obiano has abandoned and wondered the unique interest in Ikemba Drive where another contractor is already working.

The Anambra state Commissioner for Works, Engr Lawrence Chiwuba could not be reached for his comments.
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War on Nnewi roads, as Federal Government, Anambra government battle over contract War on Nnewi roads, as Federal Government, Anambra government battle over contract Reviewed by Unknown on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 Rating: 5

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