The House of Representatives Committee on Works has directed contractors handling federal road projects in Abia State to speed up completion of the projects.

The Chairman of the committee, Rep. Ogbuefi Ozo-Mgbachi, gave the directive recently when he led members to inspect federal road projects being executed in different parts of the state.

He expressed concern that while some of the contractors had been fully mobilised, others still had the problem of finance.

He urged contractors who had been mobilised to hasten work to ensure the completion of the projects on schedule.

“Contractors who have collected mobilisation fees but failed to mobilise to site should note that time is of essence and government will note take excuses.’’

The chairman said that the committee would ensure that contractors handling federal government road projects in the state deliver on time and according to specifications.

In order to check sharp practices by contractors, the lawmaker said that members of the committee had resorted to using road testing equipment to ascertain if contractors were working according to specification.

“Before now, members of the committee were not using road testing equipment in its oversight functions.

“But now, we have acquired coring machines and concrete testing equipment to  check sharp practices by contractors which often resulted in the collapse of roads.”

Also speaking, the Federal Controller of Works in Abia, Mr Nasiru Bello, said he was impressed that the lawmakers had introduced the use of road testing equipment in the performance of their oversight functions.

He said that the move would compel contractors to take their work seriously.

Bello blamed the poor execution of work on some of the roads inspected  by the lawmakers on some engineers deployed to the Abia office of the Federal Ministry of Works.