Borno orders contractors to complete housing project

Acting Governor of Borno State, Umar Kadafur, has summoned contractors of the uncompleted 500-unit housing project to site.

The N5 billion housing project, and sited along the Damaturu–Gubio road in Maiduguri, was awarded in January 2020.

According to Kadafur, who doubles as the chairman of the project implementation committee, the contractors were mobilised with N1.6 billion.

While summoning the contractors in a special announcement by the committee’s secretary, Mohammed Abdu, the acting governor disclosed: “All contractors, who are either yet to report to project site or abandoned their work, as well as (those that have) not reached the damp-proof course (DPC) levels should return immediately.”

He directed the affected contractors to commence work within seven days.

“Failure to comply with the directive, the committee will have no other option but to revoke your contracts,” he warned, reiterating that mobilisation fees for any revoked contract would be refunded to the state government.

While laying the foundation for the housing projects last year, Governor Babagana Zulum had said that the construction of 500 housing units was to bridge shelter deficit.

He said the housing situation forced many residents to resort to shanty settlements with attendant environmental hazards at the peripheries of Maiduguri.

The two housing estates are furnished with a police post, market, school, clinic and a fire station to check fire outbreaks.

“We’ll not compromise on contract terms, including adherence to standards of building material that could withstand harsh weather conditions,” Zulum had said.