Challenging Indigenous Contractors

The Director-General of G-350 Plus, an association of Rivers indigenous contractors, Chief Sunnie Chukumela has disclosed that his members are handling 350 projects currently being executed by the Rivers State Government in parts of the state.

A breakdown of the figure shows that the local contractors executed 100 out of the 150 health centres constructed by the state government. Similarly, 250 out of the 350 model primary schools being constructed in parts of the state are undertaken by local contractors. This is in addition to the group being responsible for 60 per cent of all on-going road projects in the state.

Looking at the statistics especially the sheer volume of jobs awarded indigenous contractors by the Hon. Chibuikie Rotimi Amaechi administration, we can state without fear of contradiction, that the Amaechi tenure represents a golden era in the efforts at building indigenous capacities in the major sectors of the state’s economy.

When governor Amaechi took over the mantle of leadership of the state on 25th October, 2007 he did not hide his resentment against the huge capital flight suffered by the state and its economy over the years as a result of lack of indigenous capacities.

He promised that his administration would reverse the oddity and that while he reigns, Rivers money must not only work for Rivers people but must also enter into Rivers people’s pockets in order to empower them.

What the G-350 Plus has experienced so far is not only a fulfillment of that promise but a serious challenge by the government tasking their intellect, patriotism and sincerity of purpose.

Regrettably, on more than one occasion, the governor and other well-meaning citizens of the state, have been given cause by some members of the 350 association to question the wisdom in giving special consideration to indigenous contractors.

Some of the contractors have performed woefully not only by turning out shoddy jobs, but by outright abandonment of the contract after they have collected mobilisation fees.  It has also been observed that some of these contractors take little interest in building their own capacities by subjecting themselves to due process, investing substantial part of their profit in the acquisition of permanent facilities, equipment and staff training.

They rather engage in frivolous and ostentatious lifestyle in the erroneous belief that the window of opportunity opened by this government shall remain ajar time without end.

It is time to remind the G-350 Plus and its members that the world will never stand still and wait for them and that other citizens of Rivers State are also in a hurry to reap the benefits of the public resources committed into the contracts awarded to them.

Indigenous contractors can still justify this trust by making conscious efforts at building their capacities to become nationally and internationally competitive so as to prevent future capital flight.

While we salute the courage and vision of Governor Amaechi in empowering indigenous contractors and preventing huge capital outflow from the state, we also challenge beneficiaries to demonstrate, clearly, that they have the patriotic zeal to continue to retain the confidence of the government and people of Rivers State.