The Bayelsa State Executive Council has approved N61 billion as variation cost on the Nembe-Brass road project.
Governor Diri, who made this known yesterday during an inspection of the project, said the council at its meeting on Wednesday approved a review of the construction cost, bringing it to N115 billion.
Twenty of the 21km of the first phase of the project has been sand-filled, 6.5km stone base laid and sand stabilised while work on the second bridge out of the 10 has commenced.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Daniel Alabrah, quoted the governor as saying he was impressed with the extent of work done by the construction company, Setraco, unlike when he last visited the project site in March this year.
Diri also said he was satisfied that funds released for the project were being judiciously utilised and urged the company to deliver the contract as scheduled.
The governor also expressed optimism that President Bola Tinubu’s promise that the federal government would partner with the state government on the second phase of the project would be fulfilled.
He said: “The Commissioner for Works informed me that you wanted to suspend work because of the variation. The variation you brought was higher than the initial contract sum.
“I was very skeptical but he tried to convince me that the variation was not just that the contractor was looking for money but that it was because of the changes in our foreign exchange rates.
“So, we approved the variation in the last State Executive Council Meeting, which brought the project cost up to N115 billion. That means you must justify and deliver this job as planned.
“You have achieved so much progress on the 21km stretch, with the first bridge completed and about to commence the second major bridge, which is 120 metres long.
“I’m also happy to hear from you that 6.5km of the road is ready for asphalting and that sand-filling on the road has reached the 20km mark.
“On the second phase of this road, I had met Mr. President and also communicated to him. He directed the Minister of Works to do the needful. We are still awaiting action.
“But I am convinced that with the interest shown by the President, the second phase would be awarded by the federal government”.
The Project Manager of Setraco Nigeria Limited, Mr. Hazen Nadjab, stated that the company would fulfill its part of the contract and commended the state government’s effort in ensuring the smooth construction of the road.
Nadjab disclosed that the company had requested for extension of the completion date due to changes in cost of construction but assured the government that by December this year, six kilometers of the road would be asphalted.
Also, the Commissioner for Works, Moses Teibowei, stated that with the commitment of the state government and the availability of funds, the project would be completed within the shortest possible time.
