Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, on Wednesday, threatened contractors handling ongoing projects across the state to step up and work according to specifications and agreed timelines or risk termination of their contracts.
In a statement on Wednesday, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Fred Itua said that Okpebholo gave the charge when he inspected some roads and drainage projects in the state and expressed unhappiness over their execution rates.
He specifically frowned at the slow pace of work in the Orior-Ozolua community, where residents complained that the contractor was usually not on site.
The governor and his entourage inspected the ongoing road and drainage projects at Orior-Ozolua Community, Orior Uteh Palace Road, New Uteh Road Ekiuwa Quarters and Upper Ekenhuan open drain by Nigeria Army Cantonment, among others.
The jubilant crowd who received the governor and his entourage in all the areas visited thanked him for remembering them as the last administration had forgotten about their existence.
They, therefore, prayed for the success of the governor and his administration.
At Orior-Ozolua Community in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, Sylvester Igbinovia, who was among the jubilant crowd that welcomed the governor to the community, complained about the slow pace of work by the contractor handling the road and drainage projects.
‘Mr Governor, this contractor is just too slow on this job. They close before 2pm when they are on site, but most time they are not on site. They are here today, your Excellency, I am sure they know that you are coming, that is why they are here today’, he stated.
Okpebholo, who personally inspected the thickness of the drainage at Orior-Ozolua community, was displeased that the contractor did not meet project specifications. He instructed the contractor to do the right thing or have his contract revoked.
‘Why did you reduce the width of the drain? You reduced it on both sides. Look at my face. If you are not doing the right thing and not working according to specifications, I can revoke the contract any moment without fear or favour. I need you to do a quality job. The resources belong to the people and must be utilized effectively and efficiently’, Okpebholo charged.
