Says his administration will not work with contractors who will not get the job done
The Seriake Dickson-led Bayelsa State Executive Council has terminated two major road contracts initiated by the past administration in the state.
According to the state commissioner for information, Markson Fefegha, the decision was taken as a “mark of seriousness and commitment” to reposition the state and also fast track development.
The two major road contracts terminated are the Etegwe-Tombia road contract, which gives access to the SPDC gas gathering facility at Gbarantoru, the state owned Niger Delta University (NDU), Amassoma and also the state owned Gloryland Television, and Ogbia-Nembe road contract, which provides access to one of the historic and tourist cities in Bayelsa State.
One of the contractors, Moreno, handling the construction of the Ogbia-Nembe road project is alleged to have received N6.8 billion from the immediate past administration without doing commensurate work.
The other contractor, Enerco, was handling the Etegwe-Tombia road project which was awarded in 2007 in a partnership between Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) and Bayelsa State Government.
SPDC reportedly paid its counterpart funds to the state government due to much pressure but the past administration appeared not to have shown equal commitment, leading to a delay that left the road in a serious state of disrepair.
Fefegha did not disclose the worth of the two contracts but said the present administration “will do away with any briefcase carrying contractor” as it “is in a hurry to develop the state”.
Although denied one of the road contracts, the commissioner assured that Moreno, which is an indigenous company, will be given lesser jobs to handle.
Speculations are rife that the major projects may be re-awarded to construction giant Julius Berger, which is due to return to the state within two weeks after a four-year absence.
The company is expected to add quality and professionalism to the development efforts of the new administration.
