Projects At Standstill in Bayelsa, Govt Disagrees

Global economic meltdown may be  taking its toll on the activities of the Bayelsa State government as many projects inherited and started by the present administration are now in a state of abandonment.

The projects include the 47 internal roads, three senatorial model schools, the plastic factory, and the three senatorial roads.

However, the State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Frank Opigo said the projects are not abandoned are rather but suffering delay in execution and completion, assuring that contractors handling the various projects would soon mobilize to sites.

Briefing newsmen after an Independent tour of various sites of project by Journalists, Opigo, said it was wrong for individuals or group of individuals to think that the present administration has abandoned any of its projects.

On the 47 internal roads, Opigo said the project is still on course, blaming some residents and contractors for their lukewarm attitude, threatening that some of the contracts would be revoked.

“The present administration could no longer fold its arms and allow recalcitrant contractors to drag its ambition of turning around the state through the mud. Sylva’s administration has a good plan for the State, that is why, at its inception he decided to complete projects started by the previous administration”, the commissioner said.

Also, he blamed residence of the state over what he described as non adherence to the layed down Town planning law, alleging that some lawmakers in the state are encroaching on the land set aside for the 5-star hotel.

He said  he has tabled the matter before the Governor, hoping that necessary steps would be taken to reverse the trend.

Commenting on the multi billion naira Ekoli Bridge being handled the Construction giant,Julius Berger, the Commissioner attributed the setback to the activities of the various militant groups prior to the acceptance of amnesty programme.

“Julius Berger left its various sites, not only in Bayelsa State, but the entire Niger Delta region due to the abduction of its expatriates staff in Port Harcourt, Rivers state, and since then we have been trying on how to bring them back”, he explained.

“ If they turn down the offer, going by the law of contract, the contract can then be revoked and given to another firm, while refund is expected to be made, depending on who is at fault”, he stated further.

Also, the Commissioner advised the Ministry of Niger Delta to consider how to link Bayelsa state capital in its proposed Coastal plan expected to run through some riverine areas in the state, stating that this would save the state from the billions of naira it would have invested on its three senatorial roads.

Commenting on the Tombia-Amassoma road, Opigo said it was wrong for the Shell Petroleum Development Company to misinform the public that it has paid its own counterpart fund of the project.

“When you look at the amount spent so far, you will discover that the State Government has committed more to the project than SPDC and we are hoping to pump in more funds in the next few weeks, he said,” he said.