Delta State Government has directed the contractors handling the Otekpo Road in Ellu town of Isoko North Local Government Area to stop work with immediate effect.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Monitoring/Audit, Engr (Dr) Goodnews Agbi, who gave the directive after inspecting the job amongst other projects, noted that the contractor did not follow specifications recorded in the Bills of Engineering Measurement and Evaluation (BEME) and also carried out an unprofessional execution on the project.
Dr Agbi complained about the size of steel used for the drain walls, noting that the area is a floodplain. “The project we inspected in Ellu/Ozoro Road was very bad. They used 8mm for the drain walls, and that is very wrong.
‘’Then they are doing earthworks without culverts knowing that the area is flood plain, and by engineering principles, you are supposed to finish your culverts and others before doing the earthwork.”
“We have decided to stop the job for now while the contractor and the awarding ministry come to the office with the BEME for the job to be reviewed because what they are doing there is not what is in the BEME.
‘’No architect or engineer will suggest an 8mm size rod for a drain wall in a flood-prone area. They should come to the office so a remedial can be discussed or better, they bring down what they have done there and start a proper job.”
He, however, commended the contractor handling the Reconstruction of Olomoro-Igbide Road in Isoko South Local Government Area and urged them to keep up with the good job.
“We’ve seen a lot of works around the state. While some are poorly executed, others are good, and you have done a very good job which is the type of execution of projects we expect in the state. In the MORE Agenda of the Governor, we want quality jobs that are of specification, and that is what we saw at the site.
‘’So, we must commend your supervision and thank you for doing this good job. Others collect the same money without delivering quality projects which gives us a lot of headaches where we keep correcting.”
