Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Kogi State, has warned contractors handling gully sites that the state government will not accept poorly executed job.
The State Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Barr. Ladi Ahmed Jatto, gave the warning while inspecting ongoing gully site at Ogane-Aji in Dekina local government area of Kogi state on Thursday.
The inspection is in continuation of the ongoing sites assessment tour of the steering and technical committees of Kogi State NEWMAP led by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Victor Adewale Omofaiye, and the State Project Coordinator, Barr Ladi Ahmed Jatto.
On Thursday, the team toured Ogane-Aji and Adum Road gully sites in Dekina and Olamaboro LGAs respectively.
While at Ogane-Aji, the team observed that although work was ongoing, it was moving at a slow pace.
Responding on behalf of the contracting firm, Engr. William Tayar explained that the reason for the seeming slow pace of work is as a result of the rains which is at its peak at the moment, hence, the selective nature of the entire work process.
He assured that as soon as the rains subside, work would commence in earnest in all locations of concern, especially at the main gully head, which is of particular interest.
The team, however, urged the contractor to pick up the pace, as time was of the essence.
The Project Coordinator, Kogi NEWMAP, maintained that, “although it is important to complete the assignment in good time, it was equally pertinent to maintain the highest level of standard and integrity, as the state Government would not accept any poorly executed job!”
From Ogane-Aji, the team proceeded to Adum Road, Ogugu gully erosion site.
Although the team was impressed with the quality of work by the contractor at Adum Road, members, nevertheless, expressed their displeasure over the maintenance approach of the contractor.
The team frowned at the non removal of silted sand from drainage areas, as well as the non removal of overgrown weeds, which have succeeded in hiding the beauty of the good works of the contractor.
The contractor was immediately given a one week ultimatum within which to evacuate and desilt all drains, remove silted sand from drainage areas, as well as clear all overgrown weeds, failing which appropriate sanctions would be issued.
In addition, the contractor was encouraged to deploy more men to site in order to fast-track delivery, completion time, as Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello was running out of patience over the slow pace of work at the site.
Members of the team, who had never been to the site, marveled at the extensive nature of the project which is geared towards uplifting the lives and livelihood of members of the community. They commended Governor Yahaya Adoza Bello, and appealed to him to replicate similar projects in other parts of the state being ravaged by gully erosion.
They equally thanked the Governor for his continued release of funds to the project, considering that nothing could have been achieved by the project without his sustained support.
