No Payment, No Return To Projects Sites, Contractors Tell NDDC

Contractors handling key Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) projects abandoned for years over non-settlement of Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) in Akwa Ibom State have insisted they would only return to sites, if the commission pays them.

The contractors expressed the concern in response to appeal for completion of the projects by NDDC Sole Administrator, Effiong Akwa, following his projects’ inspection visit to Akwa Ibom.

Some of the key projects stalemated by NDDC’s failure to settle contractors’ IPCs include, the Regional Specialist Hospital at Mkpat Enin Local Government Area (LGA) and the 175-room University of Uyo permanent site hostel in Uyo LGA.

The Structural Engineer for the regional hospital, Blessing Umoh, described the project as a three-in-one complex comprising Orthopaedic, Cardiovascular and Children/Maternity sections.

Contractor for the project, Mfoniso Essien, put the completion status at just 26 per cent before it was abandoned while Emeka Maduka, contractor for the hostel project said the job was 80 per cent done before work was halted.

In a statement by NDDC Director, Corporate Affairs, Ibitoye Abosede, the contractors asked Akwa, “For payment of IPCs to enable return to sites.”

Akwa consequently, “Directed the contractors to report to the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt for comprehensive evaluation of the constraints, which would assist in putting together necessary things to ensure the realisation of the projects.”