Concerned members of the House of Representatives have expressed grief over the poor implementation of the Renewed Hope Estate being constructed in Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.
Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, Hon. Awaji-Inombek Abiante, who expressed the concern during a recent oversight function of the multi-billion naira project, tackled the four contractors handling the projects.
The lawmaker, who underscored the need to engage competent contractors with a view to ensuring the projects are properly implemented, frowned at the level of implementation of the 250 housing units in Uyo awarded to three separate contractors.
He alleged that despite being funded up to 30 per cent each by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, the work done so far was less than six per cent.
He added that the project, which was awarded in June 2024, ought to have been completed since September 2024.
Worried by the development, Hon. Abiante tasked the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Architect Ahmed Dangiwa, on the need to engage sincere and experienced contractors in the implementation of federal projects.
In the same vein, Hon. Abiante, who expressed concern over the poor implementation of the Umu Etuk-Spencer Esin slum upgrade road network in Oron, called for a total reconstruction of the Umu Etuk-Spencer Esin road slum upgrade.
He said, ”The contractor that handled this Oron Road project succeeded in wasting funds allocated to it on substandard materials. As you can see, the visible deplorable state of a road newly constructed in July this year aims to ameliorate the sufferings of the people living in this region. The committee is not happy with this situation.
“The three different contractors, namely Springwell Intercontinental Resources, Tunsoye Trust Global Link, and Hyosungs Nigeria Limited, handling the 250 housing units in Uruan, Uyo Capital City, and this slum upgrade road in Oron Local Government Area by Logine Limited, have pure intentions to sabotage the efforts of the renewed hope housing scheme of the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.”
To this end, Hon. Abiante mandated the Clerk of the Committee to officially invite the Minister of Urban Development and Regional Planning and the four contractors to appear before the committee on Thursday, 21st November, 2024, unfailing.
According to him, the investigative hearing would provide an opportunity to identify the challenges and limitations propelling the current unsatisfied level of both projects’ implementation.
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