The House of Representatives Committee on Niger Delta Ministry has queried the contractors handling the skill acquisition centre at Iwuo Achang, Ibeno LGA of Akwa Ibom.

Eugene Dibiagwu, the committee chairman, issued the query at the investigative hearing on the abandoned Skill Acquisition Centre in Abuja.

He said that the lack of commitment by the contractors had made them part of the problem Nigeria is facing over abandoned projects.

Mr Dibiagwu added that it was ridiculous that the project was yet to be completed after being paid 85 per cent of the contract sum.

Mr Dibiagwu added, “As a contractor that has been paid up to 85 per cent, you are supposed to have completed that project; you know the reason why you have not; we will not allow the project to die that way.

“We understand the situation we found ourselves in in the country economically regarding the cost of materials. We will engage the ministry of Niger Delta so that they will know whether to consider further valuation for your request for additional money.”

The legislator expressed surprise that part of the fence built by the contractors had collapsed, saying the committee would unravel the cause of the collapse. He charged the contractor to do everything possible to complete the project, adding that the committee would not join issues with the contractor until the project was completed.

Mr Dibiagwu said that if the skill acquisition centre must have all the necessary facilities to be functional, it would require an additional N2 billion from the N4.2 billion earlier quoted for the project.

He stated, “We are looking at an additional N2 billion, which will bring the total project to N 6.2 billion, having committed N4.2 billion initially. And even if we commit N6.2 billion, the centre will still not work, considering what is left to be done. That centre cannot train one person even with N6.2 billion.”

He said it was because the centre would accommodate training workshops, train personnel to manage it, and also equip the training centre to work.

“It would be recalled that the House, on Nov. 23, 2023, deliberated on a motion titled ‘Need to Complete the Construction of the Skill Acquisition Centre at Iwuo Achang, Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom state’,” he said.

The parliament had urged the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to ensure completion of the project within the 2024 fiscal year and mandated the Committee on Niger Delta Ministry to ensure compliance.

The contract for the centre was awarded on March 15, 2010, by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to three companies. The contractors who appeared before the committee included Stegis International Agency Nigeria Ltd., a civil construction building, and Enarosol Nigeria Ltd., a landscaping and perimeter fencing company. Others were Y. S. Associates, Electrical and Mechanical Works.

He said that the project had reached about 85 per cent completion 12 years ago but was abandoned due to an unexpected increase in the price of goods.

This, he said, left the property vandalised and in deplorable condition.

The contractors, who tried unsuccessfully to defend their actions, were requested to appear with copies of the contract agreements, interim performance certificates, and any other relevant documents relating to the project. 

(NAN)