By: Nwakaji Peace Martins
The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Ministry has raised concerns regarding the contractors responsible for the establishment of the skill acquisition center at Iwuo Achang in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.
During the investigative hearing, Committee Chairman Eugene Dibiagwu questioned the contractors involved in the construction of the abandoned skill acquisition center in Abuja. He criticized the lack of dedication shown by the contractors, attributing their actions to contributing to the prevalent issue of abandoned projects in Nigeria.
Dibiagwu expressed disbelief that the project remains unfinished despite the contractors having received 85% of the contract payment. “As contractors who have received such a significant portion of the payment, it was expected that the project would have been completed by now. The reasons for this delay need to be addressed to prevent the project from being left in this state.”
Acknowledging the economic challenges affecting the country, particularly in terms of material costs, Dibiagwu mentioned plans to engage with the Ministry of Niger Delta to evaluate the possibility of additional funding for the project.
The committee further scrutinized the broken fence constructed by the contractors, emphasizing the need to determine whether the fault lay with the contractors or was due to natural causes.
Despite this setback, Dibiagwu urged the contractors to prioritize the completion of the project, stating that the committee would not engage in disputes until the project reached fruition.
The committee estimated that an additional N2 billion would be required to equip the skill acquisition center adequately for functionality, bringing the total project cost to N6.2 billion.
Highlighting the necessity of essential facilities for the center to operate effectively, Dibiagwu emphasized the importance of training workshops, personnel training, and equipment for the center.
The committee previously deliberated on the urgency to finalize the construction of the Skill Acquisition Center at Iwuo Achang, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, within the 2024 fiscal year.
The chairman disclosed that the contract for the center was awarded in 2010 to three companies by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, reaching 85% completion 12 years ago before being abandoned due to unforeseen cost escalations.
The contractors, including Stegis International Agency Nigeria Ltd., Enarosol Nigeria Ltd., and Y. S. Associates, were tasked with providing copies of the contract agreement, performance certificates, and other relevant project documents for further review.
