Contractors Abandon N28bn Yakowa Road Projects
Contractors engaged by the administration of the late governor of Kaduna State, Sir Patrick Yakowa, to construct urban and rural roads valued at N28billion have abandoned them.
Communities which benefitted from the road projects have appealed to Governor Ramalah Yero to intervene in the matter and ensure their immediate completion.
Already, the state government has threatened to bring all the contractors who collected mobilisation fee and abandoned the projects to book.
The late Yakowa had, in October 2012, kicked off 31 rural and urban roads in the 23 local government areas, which was celebrated by the benefitting communities.
To ensure their smooth take off, the late Yakowa paid 25 per cent of the total cost of the roads to each of the contractors as mobilisation fee.
But, eight months after his death, most of the contractors have left their sites, claiming non-release of funds by the state government.
The road projects, which cut across the three senatorial zones, were awarded to the contractors at the cost of N28 billion on October 23, 2012, while Yakowa died in December 2012 in a helicopter crash in Bayelsa State.
On why the Yero administration has 'abandoned' the projects, the director-general of media and publicity to Governor Yero, Malam Ahmed Maiyaki, told LEADERSHIP Weekend: 'The governor has over time told the people of Kaduna State that this is not a new government, it is not a government that has come through an election process, it is a government that is here to consolidate on what the late Sir Patrick Yakowa has done in Kaduna both in terms of completion of projects and execution of new projects.'
'The governor has made it clear to the people of the state that he will continue with the projects initiated by the late Yakowa, and it is in that regard that Governor Yero has gone ahead to implement the budget as prepared and submitted by the late governor. I will assure the people of Kaduna State that, at the appropriate time, the government will give an account of what the late Sir Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa left behind. There is serious work going on at the different sites. There is no project that has been stopped.
'We want to assure the people of the state that road construction will continue, to ensure we meet the maximum infrastructural development of the people.
'It is a sad piece of news that some contractors have abandoned work on some of the roads. The state government is making sure that people are brought to book; you cannot receive money from the government and abandon the projects. They thought that by the death of the former governor, they can go away with what they have collected. People who collected government funds in the name of projects and abandoned them are going to be brought to book.'
While other roads have been completed within the timeframe, others have been abandoned by contractors who complained of no further payment after the mobilisation fees.
LEADERSHIP Weekend investigation revealed that the roads awarded by the late governor included Kwassam Kushere Geshere, a 45-kilometre highway awarded to SDEM Nig Ltd at the cost of N3.762 billion; Romi Karatudu, 6-kilometre, handled by Niger Cat Co Ltd at the cost of N920 million. The two highways have been abandoned by the contractors while only Kudenda Road, 9-kilometre, awarded to CGC Nig. Ltd at N965 million is 90 per cent completed.
But the Garun Kurama-Kurandai-Baudu-Kasuwa Road awarded to Gonaco Enterprises at the cost of N1.360 billion; Maraban Kakeye-Farin Kasa-San Birni-Richifa Road award to Mothercat Ltd at N1.54billion; Buks Kwarin Ayuba-Ang-Yusi-Yankarje-Hanwa Road was awarded to CGC Nig. Ltd at the cost of N458,381,093; Hayin Jirgi-Bomo Road was also awarded to Sahah Continental Ltd at the cost of N157.288million while Likoro-Magadda was awarded to Hydrosources& Resources Ltd at the cost of N317.174billion are not completed.
Other projects awarded by the late Yakowa included Sakaru-Bagaldi Road to Edil Belmant Ltd at the cost of N645,216,397; Garun Kurama-Keran Road to SKY Tech & Cons Coy Ltd at N136,944,963; Shehu Idris Road-Tudun Jukun Road awarded to Al'Usab Cons Ltd at N131,815,800; Farar Gada-Yakawada-Iyatawa Road to Arab Contractors (Nig) Ltd at N1,464,125,997; Dogon Dawa-Sabon Laye-Old Birnin Gwari Road awarded to P. W. (Nig.) Ltd at N3,357,966,986; WAEC-GGSS Kawo-College-Lafiya Road awarded to Al'Usab Cons (Nig) Ltd at N512,160,419; Kutemeshin-Yankam-Dutse Road awarded to Shunom Enterprises at N171,890,775; Makera-Yam Market and Ajaka roads awarded to Borini Prono & Co Ltd, at N974,968; Gonin Gora Ungwa Katafawa-Angwa Bije-Gonin Gora Road awarded to Hussaini & Brain Const. Ltd at N640,871,398, and Kwagiri-Kussom-Wasa Road was awarded to Graycoy Nig Ltd at the cost of N1,216,119,019.
The Kwoi-Dura-Ankung-Taimen-Indofawas awarded to J. P. Sigma Nig. Ltd at N1,259,344,635; Zonkwa-Yarbvam Road was awarded to SDY Eng & Construction Co. Ltd at the cost of N282,450,577; Gidan-Mana Township Road was awarded to Foundation Solid Nig Ltd at N275,237,146; Unguwan Idi-Kusheka was awarded to Global General Eng Ltd at N246,193,321, Gantang-Bahago was awarded to Bonus Ltd at the cost of N235,064,025.
Some of the contractors have abandoned their tractors and other equipment at the project sites, which were expected to be completed between four and 18 months.
Mr Mordecai Sunday Ibrahim, who is the leader of Karatudun community, told LEADERSHIP Weekend that the abandonment of the Romi-Karatudu Road project had cut short their joy.
He said: 'When the construction of the road started, we were happy because the road was in terrible shape. This road serves as the only link between the community and other five communities. The population of these communities is over a million.
'But the work done on this road is not commensurate with the 25 per cent mobilisation fee paid by the government. And that is unacceptable because it is tax payers' money. If the contractor does not have the equipment as we are told, then the contract should be revoked and be given to another person. The contract was to be completed in 12 months.'