Motorists Want Task Force On Roads Construction

Commercial vehicle operators in Port Harcourt, Rivers State have urged the state government to set up a task force to monitor road projects in the state.

In separate interviews with newsmen they accused some contractors handling road projects across the state of incompetence and abandoning some of the projects.

The operators said deliberate steps should be taken to put contractors on their toes, especially with the dry season fast approaching.

One of them, Mr Ebere Jacobs, said some contractors handling projects in the state did not make good use of the dry season in 2009, and thereby allowed jobs they ought to have completed to linger.

Another motorist, Olulu Chimejiya, said some of the contractors were full of pranks and would continue to do so over projects, unless serious measures were taken to check them.

“The dry season in this area is very short; so, it must be well utilised. We cannot afford to face the difficulties we have faced this year again; and that means government must monitor contractors strictly,’’ he added.

Most contractors handling road projects in the state left the sites due to heavy rains and resultant floods on the roads.

Residents of the areas where road projects are ongoing, have consequently faced difficulties, contending with floods and gullies, resulting from the abandonment of jobs.

The Commissioner for Works, Mr Dakuku Peterside, said the contractors had promised that they would expedite action on the road projects during the dry season.

He said government would fulfil its obligations to the contractors to enable them to complete the projects on schedule.