From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, over alleged poor execution of the Renewed Hope Estate Project, in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital.
The House Committee on Urban Development and Regional Planning, during an oversight visit to the project, at the weekend, expressed dismay over the implementation of the project.
The lawmakers equally frowned at the quality of job on the the Umu Etuk-Spencer Esin slum upgrade road network in Oron also in Akwa Ibom State.
Consequently, the chairman of the committee, Awaji-Inombek Abiante,
directed that the Housing and Urban Development Minister be invited to appear before the lawmakers, alongside the four contractors, handling the projects, on Thursday.
Abiante expressed dismay that, the level of work on the 250 housing units estate, which is handled by three different contractors, despite being funded to 30 percent each by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, was less than six percent.
According to him, the project which was awarded in June 2024 ought to have been completed since September 2024.
The lawmaker, while calling for a total reconstruction of the Umu Etuk-Spencer Esin road slum upgrade, urged Dangiwa, to engage sincere and experienced contractors in the implementation of federal projects.
He said ”The contractor that handled this Oron road project succeeded in wasting funds allocated to it on substandard materials. As you can see the visible deplorable state of a road newly constructed in July this year, aiming to ameliorate the sufferings of the people living in this region. The Committee is not happy with this situation.”
Abiante noted that the appearance of the Minister amd the contractors before the lawmakers will enable would expose the Committee to the factors responsible to the current state of the two projects.