By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Works Muhammad Bello Goronyo has charged the Managing Director/CEO of Federal Emergency and Roads Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), to warn contractors who fail to deliver on their contract awards to start doing the needful or risk sanctions, even as he commissioned a solar- powered streetlight project in Isale-Eko, Lagos.
According to two separate statements signed by Mohammed Ahmed, the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Works and issued on Tuesday, the Minister was on a familiarisation tour of the South-West section of FERMA, where the State Coordinators made presentations before him on the progress, challenges and expectations in the cause of the discharge of their duties on Monday 2nd November, 2024,
Goronyo stressed that the era of abandoning projects is over, noting “These contracts are awarded and paid through the tax payers money, and they desire value for their money. The list of defaulting Contractors must be made available to the Headquarters not later than next week.”
He also proposed the need for a strong Technical Committee that will criss- cross the country to monitor FERMA projects with a view to ascertaining the quality of their deliveries.
He commended the Federal Road Management Engineers (FRME) from the zone, assuring them that all issues raised will be looked into to make FERMA great and successful.
“The country must tighten up its belt and combat the challenges frontally.
We have been drawing from a well without water for so long. We now have a President who is willing to face the challenges head on without complaining. We must be ready to support one another and do things differently.
Urging support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in his effort to turn the economy around in the over all interest of the citizenry, Goronyo pledged to pay unscheduled visits to contract sites to have a first hand knowledge of the commitment of contractors to projects, while also assuring that Staff Welfare is a paramount issue of concern which will not be toyed with.
On the other hand, the Minister while on an earlier courtesy Visit to His Royal Majesty (HRM), the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Akiolu, in his Iga Idugaran Palace earlier, noted that the solar-powered street light initiative was part of a conscious effort by the federal government at investing in renewable energy solutions.
He identified the benefits of the project to include improvement in the socioeconomic well-being and mitigating the insecurity challenges confronting the area, urging residents to take full ownership of the project with a view to safeguarding it from vandalisation by unscrupulous elements.
He solicited for prayers and support of His Royal Majesty and indeed Nigerians to be able to do more for the overall growth and development of the nation.
In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of FERMA, Engr Chukwuemeka Agbasi, who thanked the Oba for the warm reception accorded the entourage, commended the community for providing an enabling atmosphere for the installation of the facility and cautioned against vandalisation, assuring that FERMA is poised to ensure adequate maintenance and value in road maintenance in the community and the state.
Responding, HRM Oba Akiolu, appreciated the Minister for the visit, noting that FERMA has been wonderful and cooperative in the discharge of its duties to the community, warning miscreants against vandalising public utilities in the area.