Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State has warned that contractors who failed to meet project deadlines would pay liquidated damages to the state government.

Mr Mbah gave the warning in Enugu on Wednesday while flagging off the 167.35-kilometre road projects across the state’s three senatorial zones.

“We agreed with the contractors on when to deliver, and if they fail to deliver, they will pay us liquidated damages,” Mr Mbah said.

The flag-off began on Monday and saw Mr Mbah announce the reconstruction and dualisation of the 43.7Km Penoks-Abakpa Nike-Ugwogo-Nike-Opi Nsukka Road with streetlights and 18-month completion timeframe in Enugu North Senatorial Zone.

On Tuesday, the governor again flagged off the construction of the 44.8Km Amah-Eke–Oghe-Iwolo-Olo-Umulokpa Road, traversing to Udi, Ezeagu and Uzo-Uwani Council Areas in Enugu West Senatorial District.

The governor also, on Wednesday, flagged off the construction of multiple road projects totalling 78.85Km in Nkanu East and Nkanu West local governments in Enugu East Senatorial Zone.

The roads were expected to open up the economic corridors of the state and attract investment opportunities.

Some of the roads flagged off at Enugu East Senatorial District include Amodu 9.30-kilometre Amodu-Akpugo road, five-kilometer Amagu-Atakwu-Akegbe Ugwu-Akpasha road, and 3.12-kilometre Obuofia-Obeagu-Akegbe Ugwu road totalling 17.32km in Nkanu West Council Area.

Also, at Nara in Nkanu East LGA, the governor flagged off the construction of the 12.96 km Nomeh-Mburubu-Nara road, seven-kilometre Nomeh-Oduma road, 7.20 km Mburubu-Nkereffi road and 9 km Nara-Nkerefi road.

Others are 9.7Km Amagunze-Ihuokpara-Ugbawka Road, 8.67Km Akpawfu-Akpugo-Amagunze Road with a spur to Umuoma Onicha, and 6.90Km Isiogbo Nara-Isu road, all totalling 61.43 kilometres.

Speaking at Enugu East Senatorial District, Mr Mbah said, “We equally understand that if we are trying to attract cottage industries in our various rural areas, we must, as a matter of urgency, ensure that we have wide and paved roads.

“These roads are not only going to seamlessly connect Nkanu East to the West but also Aninri Council Area and Ebonyi State.”

The governor assured the people that he looked forward to inaugurating the roads in a few months’ time.

The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Gerald Otiji, and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects Development and Implementation, Uchenna Nwatu, assured the people of effective and intensive supervision to ensure quality delivery as demanded by the governor.

The Managing Director of GOWASK Engineering Limited, Hilary Abaratu, pledged to deliver the projects in terms of high quality and timeframe in the contract.

(NAN)