Cookey-Gam Tasks Journalists On Project Monitoring

The Administrator, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority (GPHCDA), Dame Aleruchi Cookey-Gam has appealed to journalists operating in the state to take the opportunity provided by the open governance policy of the Rotimi Amaechi administration to monitor the implementation of strategic projects.

Cookey-Gam who was speaking at the site handing-over ceremony of Phase I M10 Freeway Road project to Lubrik Construction Company (LCC) at Prof Tam David West Road, Thursday, said that close monitoring of contractors will help in the full and timely realisation of such projects by the government.

She said that journalists are better placed to put contractors on their toes through close monitoring and probing of their activities, hence the decision to carry them along in the implementation of the Greater Port Harcourt City Development programme.

“One of the advantages of this open governance is that every activity of the authority from the conception of a contract to its award and execution is made open.”

She assured that her authority will always invite the media to witness award and handover of projects to contractors so that they can begin to monitor such projects and raise the necessary awareness when contract terms are breached.

Cookey-Gam also explained that LCC was chosen after a rigorous bidding process that saw elimination of 11 other competing companies by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

In his response, the LCC Managing Director, Mr. Gilbert Sassine assured that his company will deliver the project on schedule.

He said that his company mobilized to site barely 48 hours after signing the contract to demonstrate their determination to achieve the project within the 30 month time line given to them by the GPCDA.