by crossriverwatch admin
The Cross River State Commissioner for Works, Mr. Legor Idagbo has commenced state wide inspection of projects executed by the Imoke administration.
The inspection tour began on Monday, March 3, 2014, with the inspection of Ikot Ekpo – Awobaka – Eko Odoso Calabar Municipality Road (8.6 km), to Calabar High Way – Akim Akim Road (8.1Km), where the Akim Akim Head Teacher Mrs Eno Usang commended the Commissioner for Works and the Management of Sermatech for extending the road construction into her school compound voluntarily without the knowledge of the school authority saying “Before it takes almost two hours from the road down here but now it’s less than 40 minutes and it came when the school was intending to expand its width.”
After Calabar High Way – Akim Akim they team visited Okurikang – Ndon Nwong – Obom Itiat – Esuk Atan Eki (26.6 Km) to Akpap – Ikoneto – Ubambat Road (11.4) both in Odukpani LGA and ended the first day inspection at Akamkpa – Nsan – Obong – Old Netim – Okomita Road (15.5Km).
On day two, Tuesday the team set out again to Ekori Beach – Igbo Imabana – Asiga Road Yakurr LGA (8.57Km) entering Mpkani – Agoi Ibami Road Yakurr (12.5Km) passing through Obubra – Ofumbangha – Adon – Ofonanta – Edor Section 1, Obubra/Ikom Road (17.5Km) to Ochon – Okokri – Ekuri Owai (28.3) Obubra /Ikom Road.
The Commissioner while addressing news men at the end of the first day inspection said he is satisfied with the level of work done so far. “We are pretty much satisfied with the level of work done so far, we were here about a year and some months ago, the progress of work was not encouraging, we’ve had course to push and encourage them to keep to their work programs as contained in the contract agreement”, Mr. Legor said.
He said they met few challenges which they have drawn the contractors’ attention to, adding that they hope that the projects will be completed as scheduled.
“The joy and satisfaction was seen from the faces of some of the community inhabitants as they smiled at us which makes me happy as the people’s servant. We will continue to push the contractors to do their job as contained in the contract agreement, though some are taking us backwards because of slow speed of delivery example is John Davis but we believe there’s room for improvement, others like Zenith, Sermatech and the Chinese are doing a good job worthy of commendation.”
Continuing Mr. Idagbo said at the end of the trip they hope to ensure that the contractors adhere to their specification of constructing by building standard roads to the taste of Cross River Government and the ADB.
He furthermore disclosed that there are rewards and sanctions which his tenure dispense appropriately to any company that fails to leave up to expectations.
He said the state will not hesitate to terminate or revoke and any contract should the contractor fail to deliver. “We have done it in other projects not yet in RAMP because none have given us course to, the best contracting firm will be awarded with letter of recommendation and possibly engaging their services again and again”, he informed.
The projects inspected so far are executed in partnership with the Africa Development Bank, ADB through the Rural Access and Mobility Project, RAMP. According to the commissioner, the projects are aimed at empowering the rural dwellers by giving them befitting road networks to ease movement of people and agricultural produce which is the main stay of the people to urban areas and also expand their cultivation capacity.
Engr. Amin of Zenith Construction while addressing the Commissioner and his entourage revealed that some of their challenges are swamps which gave them though time to overcome.
He assured the commissioner that by the end of July 2014, all the 5 roads under their lot 1 which they started about November 2011 will be completed and ready for use adding that roads have minimum durability period of 15 years.
On his part the representative from Sermatech disclosed that they met different types of obstacles at different stages but were able to surmount them all by the zeal to deliver as an ‘indigenous’ construction company.
He however noted that the life span of the roads they are constructing depends on many variables to include how they are maintained, what size of vehicles ply the road etcetera.
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