Delta, Ebonyi sanction engineers over poor project execution

This is not the best of times for the engineering profession, as three of its members are being reprimanded in Delta and Ebonyi States for ineffective supervision and poor projects execution.

The Delta State Government sanctioned two engineers for the ongoing Ukwunzu Road project while in Ebonyi State, Governor David Umahi directed the suspension of another engineer for two months over lack of proper supervision of Okposi-Umuoghara- Ebiaji Road in Ezza North Local council.

The Delta State’s Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye said the two engineers attached to the Ministry of works were being sanctioned for failure to ensure strict supervision of the ongoing road project, awarded by the state governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa.

He informed that the contractor handling the project might be “arrested” for his failure to live up to expectations.According to him, the contractor who received mobilisation fee without commencing operation at the site has been ordered to repair the failed portion of the road.

Umahi, who ordered the arrest of the contractor handling the project, while inspecting the road at Okposi-Umuoghara, said the contractor went against government specifications after collecting N200 million mobilisation fee.

An angry Umahi told his aide to ensure that two officials of the company who were on ground be handed over to police for prosecution.He described works on the site as deceitful and fraudulent, warning that his administration would not take it lightly with any contractor playing on the intelligence of the government.

The State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Fidelis Nweze, an engineer, told The Guardian that the company did less than two kilometres of earthwork with poor drainage facility.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Delta State Civil Service Commission, Dame Nkem Okwuofu has decried the encroachment into the land officially allocated to it.

She ecalled that the former Commissioner for Lands and Surveys, Chief Dan Okenyi, visited the site and assured that necessary action be taken to redress the issue.

Regretting that each time she lodged a complaint before the ministry, the pace of work at the site doubled, Dame Okwuofu appealed to the state’s commissioner for Lands and Surveys, Mr. Chika Ossai to explore all legitimate means within his office to call the encroacher to order, so as to ensure that the commission retrieves its land or is given another portion of land.

Responding, Ossai said, he had contacted the alleged encroacher on two occasions and promised to ascertain the source of his ownership whenever he puts up appearance.