The Cross River State Government has terminated the contract for the construction of the Obanliku–Obudu–Abuochiche–Mfom–Okpoma Road, citing poor performance and the contractor's failure to meet agreed specifications and contractual obligations.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Pius Edet Ankpo, announced the termination after a comprehensive inspection of the project by government engineers.
According to Ankpo, the assessment showed that Messrs Sydney Construction Nigeria Limited failed to make satisfactory progress on the project despite receiving substantial funds from the state government to accelerate construction.
He said the contractor did not execute the work in line with approved specifications, quality standards and contractual requirements, prompting the government to terminate the agreement.
"The company has demonstrated a clear lack of competence in delivering the project, and the government has therefore terminated the contract," Ankpo said.
He assured residents that the road project would be reassessed and re-awarded to a more competent contractor capable of completing it within the required timeframe and quality standards.
The Obanliku–Obudu–Abuochiche–Mfom–Okpoma Road is considered a strategic infrastructure project in Cross River North, linking major communities and supporting the movement of residents, farmers and businesses across the region.
The contract was initially awarded in 2016 during the administration of former Governor Ben Ayade but has experienced prolonged delays, attracting criticism from residents and other stakeholders.
Confirming the development, Commissioner for Information, Dr Erasmus Ekpang, said the State Executive Council would meet to ratify the termination.
He described the action as a warning to contractors handling government projects, stressing that the administration of Governor Bassey Otu would not tolerate substandard work.
Ekpang added that the government was also monitoring other ongoing projects across the state, including the Ikom Road, popularly known as "Sweet Mother Road," which is currently under investigation.
He warned that any contractor found to have delivered substandard work would face similar sanctions, reaffirming the government's commitment to ensuring quality infrastructure delivery across the state.
No comments:
Post a Comment