Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has ordered the revocation of the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Andoni-Opobo-Nkoro Unity Road project due to the alleged slow pace of work by the contractor.
Mr Fubara gave the order in Andoni on Saturday while inspecting the project alongside the Commissioner for Works, George Kelly, and the Chairperson of Andoni Local Government Council, Erastus Awortu.
The governor said it was regrettable that the contractor could only achieve about 45 per cent on the project despite receiving 100 per cent funding from Nyesom Wike’s administration.
“What I have seen here today leaves much to be desired, given that the immediate past administration had good intentions for the people of Andoni.
“The last administration made so much commitment to the point of even making 100 per cent payment to ensure quick delivery of the project before the end of its tenure, unfortunately, the contractor did otherwise.
“We are left with no option than to remove the big elephant behind the slow pace of work on this project just like President Bola Tinubu removed the big elephant behind fuel subsidy,” Mr Fubara said.
Consequently, the governor directed the works commissioner to commence the process of revocation of the project immediately.
He has also directed that the project be re-awarded to a “more competent” contractor who would deliver timely and according to specifications.
The governor, however, assured that the Andoni Section of the Unity Road would be completed and commissioned within his first hundred days in office.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Andoni section of the Ogoni-Opobo-Nkoro-Andoni Unity Road, when eventually completed, would further promote the economy and co-existence amongst local communities in the area.