Edo's Contract Confusion

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State

Buffeted by the opposition for allegedly inflating prices and shoddy contract execution, Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state undertakes a week-long inspection of projects in the state
By Walid Ogunseri , Benin City
Apart from Samuel Ogbemudia's administration of the early 70’s, one major challenge that has severely troubled Edo state is bad roads. Virtually all the roads in the state are in deplorable situation. mostly characterised by deep gullies and potholes, lack of good drains and grave flooding and erosion problem. This situation foisted untold hardship on the people of the state as the roads remained hostile both in wet and dry seasons, thus negatively affecting the socio-economic activities of the people.
Besides, the provision of educational and health facilities, including other social amenities like water to the people of Edo state could not be realised due to costly mistakes made by previous administrations in projects execution.
Investigations however, attribute the cause of road and infras-tructural decay in the state to inadequate design, lack of workable flood/erosion control pattern, and jobs not passed on engineering considerations, use of incompetent/local contractors and lack of maintenance culture.  
To stem this ugly trend, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, governor of Edo state appears to be tilting towards ensuring that construction of high quality projects all -year-round are executed by reputable contractors.
Oshiomhole had during his electioneering campaign during the Etsako Central re-run election in January, 2010 promised to execute road projects according to how they affect more communities, stressing that though the state government cannot fix all roads in the state in one day, a bold statement would, however, be made. “Apart from the roads, schools, hospitals, water and electricity will be provided in the communities”, the governor added.
In a bid to tackle the road and infrastructural decay in the state Oshiomhole took some quick and swift steps towards addressing the problems. The first decision his administration took was to identify about 33 roads within Benin metropolis for reconstruction. Contracts were also awarded for the design and construction of the Oba Market Road junction to Textile Mill Road junction, construction of Stadium Road, 2nd West Circular Road and dualisation of Oba Market Road and asphalt overlay of Ring Road.
Fourteen other roads contract were also awarded across the 18 local governments in the state, all of which Oshiomhole recently flagged off construction work.  Last Feburary, the governor had while giving his nod to the construction of four roads in Etsako West, Etsako East, Akoko Edo and Esan Central local government areas of the state made a promise to ensure justice and fairness in the execution of projects across the state, pointing out that the entire road and other infrastructural projects being embarked upon across the state would be adequately supervised by the government to ensure that contractors execute quality jobs.
“The State Government will not pay the contractors on the basis of certificates alone but on what has been certified physically”, Governor   Oshiomhole said.
The  governor formally flagged off the roads which were designed with features and specifications that will make them last long and implored traditional rulers and the youth of various communities to monitor the roads, schools, hospitals, water and electricity projects in their communities, while hoping that various supervisory ministries, such as the ministries of Works, Water Resources, Health, et cetera were working towards ensuring that his vision and mission to provide the people of the state with quality, well designed and standard jobs are achieved.
But Oshiomhole’s efforts so far, in the estimation of the PDP factional chairman, Chief Dan Orbih, is mired in corruption.
Orbih had during a press conference in Benin city observed with dismay the manner Governor Oshiomhole administration award contracts in the state. Orbih: “Most of the contracts are never advertised nor due process followed, as some of them are not captured in the budget." He cited Anegbette – Ekperi Road and the Ewohimi – Igueben Road as examples, raising further concerns over the ability of the contractors to complete the road projects before the expiration of the Oshiomhole administration, especially now that most of them are threatening to quit their sites due to non-payment of at least two outstanding certificates.
In order to actualise his vision and in pursuance of his administration's commitment to delivery of quality infrastructural projects, Oshiomhole on Tuesday, July 20 2010,  embarked on a week-long inspection of projects across the state.
The governor involved his commissioners, other government functionaries, supervisory engineers, consultants, including journalists in the task of physical verification of on-going projects across the state.
In Edo North, the governor, among others, inspected the on – going reconstruction of Ekperi-Anegbette (30.3km) Road, Ayogwiri – Akpana – Imiegba – Imiakebu Okpekpe (29-5km) road, Jattu – Afowa – Iyora – Apana – Ayogwiri (15km), Jattu – Ibie (4.4km) Road, Auchi – Jattu – Afashio – Ikabragbo – Ojo (13.6km) Road, and Otuo – Ihievbe – Ogbe (18km) Road. The governor also inspected the General Hospital at Agenebode and the Millenium Development Goals (MDG’s) water projects in the district.
In Edo Central, the reconstruction of Amedokhran – Ugboha (8.9km), Isua – Uzenema – Ebele (3.23km), Igueben – Udo (5.5km) Road, Isua – Uzenema – Egbele Road, the Women and Children Hospital in Okaigben – Ewohimi and some MDG’s water projects were inspected.
Meanwhile Governor Oshiomhole has scheduled to inspect other projects in Edo South which include reconstruction of the Evboeghae – Ugo – Urhonigbe (62km) Road, Iguobazuwa – Umaza – Siluko (25km) Road, Uhen – Olumoye (10km) Road, and Siluko Road (Phase I), Constain – Isonorho Road, Five junction Area, Stadium Road, Airport Road, Akenzua Street, 2nd West Circular Road and Oba Market Road; all within Benin city metropolis.  
In spite of the fact that the various communities visited were not informed of the governor’s inspection visit, pomp and pageantry saluted Oshiomhole and his entourage on the dusty roads to the affected communities, as gun salutes were released in his honour. Community heads, accompanied by elders, women, sons and daughters of the various communities were all at hand to welcome the governor.
Expectedly, the inspection visit created panic among contractors, supervisory engineers, consultants and commissioners as the governor expressed satisfaction over the pace and quality of work executed in some areas, while in some others, he openly complained about the quality of jobs being executed.
During the visit, some commissioners and serving engineers, agreed that it was no longer business as usual, as they did not find it easy adjusting to the new regime of project inspection by the governor.
So far, the Commissioners for Works and that of Water Resources, Erhauyi Obayagbona and Alex Okoh respectively lost their jobs in the course of the inspections . They were dropped by the governor in a cabinet reshuffle, while no fewer than three engineers were sacked by the governor for conniving with contractors to carry out shoddy jobs.
Specifically in Edo North, Oshiomhole revoked the contract for the renovation of the Labour and Maternity wards of the General Hospital , Agenebode in Etsako East local government area.
During inspection of projects in Etsako East, Governor Oshiomhole said that it is the business of the people to ensure that government gets value for money spent, stressing that nobody told him that the contractor had abandoned the project after collecting money.
He assured that any job awarded by the State Government would not be abandoned, adding that the State Government is not a charity organisation.
The governor warned engineers in the service of government that anyone who connives with contractors to carry out shoddy jobs would not only be shown the way out but also made to face the full wrath of the law. He also inspected the Ivioghe – Uzanu Road where he expressed satisfaction with the performance of the contracting firm. At Ayogwiri and Apana in Etsako West local government area, Governor Oshiomhole commissioned three boreholes of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) project. He also inspected the Afowa-Iyora-Apana Road and Ekperi-Anegbette Road where he reiterated that the essence of governance is the improvement of the welfare of the people.
At Ogbadu, the governor commissioned the electricity project executed by the state government. At Iyuku, where he inspected a water project, the Governor warned that: “Anybody who carried out fraudulent activities would be in prison for a long time. I ask you, our elders, to pay attention to projects in your areas. These projects are yours. Do not treat them like a stranger’s project. If you see a contractor doing a wrong thing and our supervisors conniving with them, please find a way to inform me, or inform your House of Assembly member.
“This is the typical way people claim to drill borehole and there is no water. If they know that I was coming they would go and bring water tanker, pour water and when you open the tap, you see water running. Then at night it goes dry. This government will not tolerate those abuses. Any commissioner or contractor or engineer that does it will not only be dismissed but will be prosecuted”, he said. 
While in Edo Central, the governor expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of jobs being executed in the district, he reiterated government’s determination to open up more communities for rapid socio-economic development.
At Idumeka community, Governor Oshiomhole commended the extent of work done so far on the construction of the Igueben-Ewohimi-Ewatto-Okhuesan road, noting that with the rains, the project might be slow, but explained that no project ought to be abandoned as no contractor is being owed. He disclosed that modalities would be worked out for the construction of a bye-pass on the portion of the road interception by rail lines. Governor Oshiomhole who also inspected the on-going construction of Agadaga-Igueben Road in Esan South-east LGA commended the contractor handling the Amedokhian-Ugboha Road in Esan North-east for doing a good job.