Gov Umahi orders arrests, threaten further disciplinary action against erring contractors

Ebonyi State Governor David Umahi gave out a directive to round up the contractor working on Okposi-Umuoghara-Ebiaji Road in Ezza North Local Government Area for executing a shoddy job contrary to government specifications, having received N200 million mobilization fee. The governor, who gave the directive, while on inspection tour of the road at Okposi-Umuoghara also directed the Ministry of Works official, Engr. Solomon Eze, go on two months suspension for negligence of duty, as regards supervision of the project. Visibly angry Umahi spoke to his ADC, Jonathan Bawada, to ensure the two officials of the company present at scene be handed over to police for prosecution. He said the work done by the contracting firm, Tonando Nigeria Ltd., as very deceitful and fraudulent, cautioning that the will henceforth deal with any contractor trying to play smart one on the state.The state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Eng Fidelis Nweze, in an interview, remarked the work done is less than two kilometers of earthwork and poor drainage. “We frown so much at that act because the contractor is supposed to have achieved a minimum 40% of that job. What we saw on the ground was less than 10% of the job. “We are not happy about it. And on that note, we have suspended the engineer supervising the job from the ministry for two months for not briefing the ministry and government accordingly.“We will be approaching the court for justice.” He said.