ABAKALIKI (SUNDIATA POST)- The Ebonyi Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Mr Francis Ori, has warned contractors yet to complete housing projects awarded to them not take his gentle appearance for weakness.
Ori gave the warning of Thursday in Abakaliki while interacting with newsmen on the state government’s decision to prosecute contractors who failed to complete projects before Sept. 25.
The commissioner, who made special reference to the resettlement housing projects at Izzo and Amaeze communities of Ishielu Local Government Area of the state, said the Sept.25 deadline was sacrosanct.
“This issue of my gentle and calm nature has nothing to do with implementing this order by Sept. 25. I am a determined person and if I appear gentle, I have Tigers around me.
“I don’t have problems with the timing of the deadline because even if it is tomorrow, we have marshaled plans on how to execute the order,” he said.
He said that contracts handling the construction of 140 units of three bedroom bungalows at Izzo and Amaeze autonomous communities were awarded the contract on Sept. 23, 2023.
“These bungalows were shared evenly per autonomous community and the contractors signed agreements with the ministry for a three-month completion period.
“The contractors were mobilised 50 per cent but during the construction, they made variation requests from the ministry which was considered.
“We held a meeting with them on Jan.22, 2024; reminded them that they have stayed up to the required time on site as the governor graciously granted that we extend their time to April”, he said.
Ori said the contractors were moblised back to site and those with outstanding certificates applied and were paid.
“We did not know that some of them did not complete their projects and when we had another meeting in June, they started giving excuses.
“We told the contactors to go back to site and complete their jobs but some of them are still waiting to see what the government will do.
“Gov. Francis Nwifuru on Aug.31, directed that any contractor who fails to finish his job on or before Sept. 25 shall be arrested and prosecuted according to the contract agreement,” he said.
The commissioner however, said that 24 out of the 87 contractors had completed their jobs while many were working assiduously to meet the deadline.
The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr Jude Okpor, who was part of the interaction, urged the public to disregard the notion that the erring contractors were related to the governor.
“The governor believes in promoting the local content and such is fundamental to develop the Ebonyi economy.
“Every Ebonyi citizen is the governor’s brother as the most important thing is that the law guiding contract execution in the state respects no one,” he said. (NAN)
