Road Project: Why Lagos Sacked Contractor

The Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Works and Infrastrucure, Engr. Ganiu  Johnson, has expressed the state government’s unhappiness over the state of the  Egbeda-Isheri Olofin road in Lagos, a project awarded to Bulletin Construction Company.

Subsequently, he announced the sack of the contractor and awarded the project to Plycon  Construction Company, which was handling the Isheri Olofin-Ikotun axis road.

Speaking during an inspection tour of the road, the Special Adviser, observed that the  contract, awarded about a year ago, has been abandoned by the contractor, while  Plycon  Construction Company was at the finishing stage of the the road that links Isheri Olofin  with Ikotun.

The state government, Alausa Rhythms learnt, may have blacklisted the firm following its  shoddy handling of the project that has already earned the state government a bad name.

Engr. Johnson, while announcing the removal of Bulletin Construction Company from the  project, said the state government took the step because of the firm’s non-performance.

He also maintained that the action was a warning to other contractors that the government is  keen on the interest of its citizens.

Johnson, who appreciated the level of work done by Plycon, added that the road would be one  of the Christmas gifts from the government to residents of the area.

The SA, who also visited the Maza Maza bridge construction site, which is an additional  bridge to service the Lagos-Badagry Expressway with the 10-lane programme of the state  government, expressed joy that the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, was up to the task  and meeting the deadline.

The 170-metre bridge, which is about 80 per cent completed, has a lane for the Bus Rapid  Transit scheme.

He also said that the Orile-Iganmu Police Station would be affected by the road construction  and plans were on to relocate it. The  first phase is from Eric Moore in Surulere to Maza  Maza.

“By the end of next year, we should be able to hand this project over, because we are on  course,” he said.

Meanwhile, jubilation has greeted the sack of Bulletin Construction Company currently  handling the Ipaja junction through Egbeda to Isheri-Olofin. Motorists plying the route were  excited when the information reached them that the project has been rewarded to another  firm.

Speaking with Alausa Rhythms  on the issue, the motorists said they had thought the state  government lacked the funds to execute the project and they had resigned to fate as they  have had to constantly service their vehicles due to its deplorable condition.

“We constantly pray that it should not rain, because if it does, then we are doomed. We  thought the governor should have left the road as it was rather than award the project when  he knew he could not complete it.

“We did not know we were just passing through this hell because the contractor refused to do  his work,” Adeniyi Musa, a commuter bus driver in the area told Alausa Rhythms.

Another driver, who gave his name as Sunday, said he was happy that the road would be  completed by December as promised by Engr. Johnson.

“The other contractor handling the Ikotun road is almost through with his job. If you know  you cannot handle a project, then why bid for it?” he asked.

Dotun Ahmed, a driver, who plies the Iyana-Ipaja-Ikotun route, said several times, he had  stopped working due to the damage to his bus as a result of the bad road.

“We always make use of alternative routes, which are themselves in bad shape. You can  imagine working three days and repairing your bus the remaining days of the week,” he said.

Adebisi Ajayi, a banker who lives in Igando, a suburb of the state said since the road  project began last year, she has been leaving home as early as five in the morning as  against 6.30a.m.  “Yet, I still get to the office late sometimes,” she added.