By samuel ibezim
Aftermath of Governor Rochas Okorocha’s visit to Isiala Mbano LGA for supervision of on-going road projects, his order to arrest some contractors for abandoning projects in the state has continued to raise dust.
One of the contractors handling roads in the area, Ezike-Umunachi-Abba road, Chief B. Alaneme of Cemek Construction Company, who was declared wanted by the governor for allegedly abandoning the project has threatened to expose the government if such harassment continues. According to him, the problem started in the year 2011 when the governor invited them for massive road construction which was chaired by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Uwajumogu, the Imo State House of Assembly Speaker. “When Speaker Uwajumogu was the committee chairman of road constructions, we worked hand in hand with the Ministry of Works and a road kilometer was to cost N120 million. We prepared a Bill of Engineering and Measurement and Evaluate (BAME), and got written note of road construction award from the Speaker and was also addressed to the then permanent secretary. With trust based on the genuineness of Gov Okorocha to hurriedly improve on the road condition of the state, we failed to insist on getting an award letter from the government” he stated.
Continuing, “Speaker Uwajumogu handed over to another committee that was headed by one Mr Akano and the cost price for a kilometer was brought down to N90 million from N120 million.
“Already, many of the contractors had borrowed money from commercial banks at a high rate with hoped that it would be a smooth deal as they hope to have 25% profit after completing the work. Indeed, it was a transit committee as it was eventually transferred to a consultant firm and they reduced it to N70 million for a kilometre of road which they reluctantly accepted in the spirit of “Rescue Mission” of the government. Again, it was transferred from this consultant firm that worked as a monitoring unit to Local Governments and the price was finally pushed down to N60 million.
We accepted it because they are deeply committed in the project but with hope that more work would be used to compensate us. However, the local government team insisted that it must be a kilometre road work for every contractor and they have documents to it. Also, it was finally handed over to the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Rural for supervising of the road work.
“We agreed with the Ministry to asphalt a kilometre road or 2 kilometre surface dressing and he opted for 2 kilometres surface dressing which have had done”.
High Chif Alaneme informed that Hon Stan Dara was brought in to fix the mess as the contractors went on several protest for been owned heavily. “That Hon Dara of Orsu state constituency made 3 stages for clearing their debts vis. (i) payment of 15kms road per local government (ii) labeling of non-captured road as category B and would be paid for. (iii) Category C are for contractors that cleared the sites where roads would be constructed”. The Cemek construction boss informed that he has road projects on the itemized 3 stage but is still been owed huge debts. He also claimed that the cost price for awarding a standard kilometre of road in Nigeria is N90 million. He wept that many of them that couldn’t sustain the shock of government action are bed-ridden as some sold their houses while others borrowed heavily to execute the job.
“I wrote a letter to them on who is owing who but have not gotten a reply. I don’t want to go on the aspect of bribery and corruption because I will do such through ICPC and EFCC. Yes! A lot went under the carpet but the truth must be told. Many of us have decided to boycott the meeting because of a lot of embarrassment and intimidation” he fumed.
In a related development, more than five contractors are now in police net for allegedly embezzling public fund by failing to execute contracts of the received money for projects. The contractors met their waterloo in Owerri West when the state Governor, Owelle Rochas Okoroch, visited the place for a Town Hall meeting and verification of Rescue Mission projects in the area.
The Governor while at Owerri West council headquarters (Umuguma) discovered that all the road projects leading to the place was not properly handled coupled with the fact that some abandoned their jobs and ran away to unknown destinations after collecting big sum of money.
The divisional police officer (DPO), DSP Linus Nwaiwu was directed by the Governor to arrest the suspected erring contractors.
While some escaped through the back side of pavilion, five of them were unfortunate as police. Arrested them
