Delta Government Warns Contractors: Deliver Quality or Lose Bids
ASABA/Nigeria: In a stern directive, the Delta State Government has cautioned contractors against bidding for projects they lack the capacity to complete, emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy for substandard work.
During a crucial meeting convened in Asaba on Thursday, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, alongside key officials including the Commissioner for Works, Highways and Urban Roads, Comrade Reuben Izeze, and his Rural and Riverine Roads counterpart, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, underscored the imperative of delivering projects that endure.
“We don’t want contractors to pile up jobs and they are not doing them. If you don’t have the capacity to do a job, don’t take the job,” Dr. Emu asserted, highlighting the government’s commitment to ensuring project viability.
Addressing prevalent concerns, Dr. Emu clarified the rationale behind advance payments, stressing their purpose in facilitating project initiation, particularly in critical and time-sensitive contracts. However, he cautioned against misuse, stating, “There is no reason for having a job for one year and you are not executing it and you are caught up by variations.”
Furthermore, Dr. Emu outlined a strategic approach to payment prioritization, urging contractors to focus on completing ongoing projects before undertaking new ones to avoid detrimental cost escalations. He urged contractors to critically assess project feasibility before acceptance, cautioning against assumptions of future variations.
Reflecting on the meeting’s significance, Dr. Emu emphasized the government’s commitment to constructive engagement amid prevailing challenges, particularly concerning recent price escalations nationwide. “We need quality roads, and the governor will not take anything sub-standard,” he asserted.
Echoing these sentiments, Charles Aniagwu emphasized Governor Oborevwori’s unwavering dedication to project excellence, stressing the importance of synergy between supervising ministries and contractors. Reuben Izeze reiterated the state’s substantial financial commitments to contractors, acknowledging their resilience amid material price hikes.
The government’s resolute stance underscores a pivotal shift towards accountability and excellence in project execution, setting a benchmark for contractors’ performance and fostering public trust in infrastructure development initiatives.
