SPEAR NEWS
Jigawa State Governor, Malam Umar Namadi, has expressed deep dissatisfaction over the poor quality of a N10.8 billion gully erosion control project, raising concerns about the involvement of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) in approving the substandard work.
During an on site inspection of the project in Kargo, Dutse Local Government Area, on Friday, Governor Namadi visibly frustrated, scratched the surface of a concrete structure and declared, “This is unacceptable. Water will wash this away. We can’t take this; it’s not possible.”
The project, designed to last 100 years, is part of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) initiative, supported by the World Bank and executed by the Jigawa State Government.
It was awarded to Retercha Company Limited to construct a seven-kilometre concrete water route aimed at addressing decades-long erosion challenges in communities such as Danmasara, Yalwawa, and Kargo.
Governor Namadi questioned the project’s consultant and site engineer over the use of substandard materials, demanding accountability for the shoddy workmanship. “Where is the consultant? We can’t take this; it’s not possible. You are here, and this poor-quality work is being delivered?” he fumed.
When the consultant attempted to attribute the flaws to “an error,” the governor retorted, “Why error everywhere? Where is the project engineer? What are you doing here? Why are you allowing this to happen?”
The site supervisor, visibly rattled, claimed the project had been approved by SON. However, this response only further incensed the governor, who shot back, “Don’t tell me that. Was it SON that awarded the contract or the state government? Was the contract paid for by SON or the state government? It should be done according to my standards. This is wrong.”
Governor Namadi immediately ordered the contractor to rework the faulty sections of the project, emphasising the need for compliance with the agreed standards.
The project, flagged off on 30 November 2023, aims to mitigate environmental degradation caused by erosion, which has destroyed farmlands, roads, and residential areas, severely impacting livelihoods in the affected communities.
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