Plateau State Governor Caleb Mutfwang has sanctioned the mobilisation of contractors to several abandoned project sites in the State in a bid to upgrade slums to urban centres within the Jos Bukuru metropolitan area.
Hon. Joshua Ubandoma Laven, Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, stated during a tour of abandoned project sites and monitoring contractor compliance that the Mutfwang administration is committed to improving the living conditions of the people who overwhelmingly voted for him and supported him throughout his legal battles.
Laven was at the Utonko Nunku, Abattoir road with a 9-span flyover bridge managed by P. W Nigeria Limited that had been abandoned for nearly 11 years due to a lack of continuation in government policies, as well as the 5-kilometer road networks in the Utan area of Jos North managed by Rick Rock Nigeria Limited, and stated that the state government will go to any length to ensure that these projects are completed by the end of the year.
The Commissioner also paid a visit to the abandoned Sabon Gari, Tudun Wada, Kabong satellite market road network, which was given to Jolex Construction Nigeria Limited in 2017 at a cost of N1.8 billion with no contractor mobilisation.
Laven and his colleagues worked on the abandoned repair of 24.1-kilometer road networks in Bukuru Jos South LGA for nearly 11 years, which was managed by P. W Nigeria Limited. Wakema Construction Nigeria Limited is in charge of the Ama streets, Mallam Kure, and Fatima road networks, while Latokem Construction Limited and Bridge are in charge of the roads in Angwan Rogo, including a spur connecting Ali Kazaureise.
Laven, who was dissatisfied with Rick Rock Construction’s inability to deploy to the site despite receiving a mobilisation fee, ordered the company three days to return to the site or face having the 11-year contract terminated.
The Commissioner voiced concern over the lack of continuation of people-centered projects proposed by the previous administration to improve the living conditions of state inhabitants, which amounted to willful waste of government resources.
“In line with the directives of Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, all contractors handling projects in the state should go back to the site and mobilization fees were paid to them.
“We have gone around the various people’s centred projects, some started 11 years ago and were not continued by the last administration. Some were awarded 7 years ago by the last administration but the mobilization fee was not made available to the contractor, allowing the contractor to deploy his money on site for over a year before receiving pieces meal as payment with taxes is removed is very unfortunate.
“You have seen the Utonko, Nunku, Abattoir road which was at its final level for citizens of the state to start using it but was left by the last administration and water washed away the gravel, and asphalt, leading to erosion. If only this was completed, we wouldn’t be here. Many of the abandoned projects are like that including those the last administration awarded.”
“But Barr Caleb Mutfwang is not interested in who is the contractor or contractors handling these projects, he has directed that all uncompleted projects must be completed because they’re people-centred projects. P. W Nigeria Limited has gone to the site, Jolex Construction Nigeria Limited is also deploying equipment to the site, and so I expected Rick Rock Nigeria Limited to do the same.
“We have overcome distractions and are ready for good governance. We will not tolerate any act of sabotage. I gave you three days to go back to the site while discussions on other variations due to current economic realities continued.
Earlier speaking on behalf of P.W Nigeria Limited Engr. Mike Ajiboye assured us that the Utunku, Nunku, Abattoir Road and 9 fly over the bridge will be ready in no distance time.
“We are so happy to be back on site on the Plateau. We are here to start work because we have received the mobilization fee as promised by the Governor and that is why you can see that we have mobilized fully back to the site.
“The remaining work here will not take up to 6 months, before the six months, people will start using this road.” He promised
The Managing Director (MD) of Jolex Construction Nigeria Limited Mr John Chinedu said the earlier duration as contained in the contract agreement is 12 months but a lot has been done already and won’t take much to complete the road networks.
“The project is a 6.9 kilometre awarded in 2017 at the cost of N1.8 billion and there was no advanced payment but we went on site. Before we got our advanced payment it was after one year and the payment was in four instalments, that was one of our greatest challenges.
“We initially had 12 months calendar year agreement, but we have done 45% to 50% of the job. I am sure. That the remaining work won’t take us 12 months again to complete the work.”
