Connect with us

BUSINESS

Asaba Airport Set For Closure, As Okowa Allegedly Frustrates Contractor To Pull Out Of Delta Amid Controversy

Published

on





 

Reports from Delta state say Asaba International Airport may be shut down again as the major contractor engaged by Delta state Government is pulling out of the upgrade project.

The contractors, ULO Consultants Limited is getting set to further wield the axe against Governor Ifeanyi Okowa who is alleged to have withheld part of the fund approved for the upgrade of the airport by the state House of Assembly.

Advertisement

The firm is planning to take drastic action against the Delta state government following what they called “unfavourable working conditions.”

According to THEWILL, the contractor has also said it will pull out of all projects being executed on behalf of the state government.

This is coming as controversy continue to trail the alleged shoody work done at the Asaba International Airport by ULO Consultants Ltd.

Advertisement

BigPen Online had earlier reported that the  Delta state House of Assembly Committee on Works headed by Hon. (Chief) Evance Ochuko Ivwurie few days ago queried the contractor, Chief Uche Okpuno, over the project which according to Ivwurie has caused the State Government untold embarrassment, setbacks and public opprobrium”.

Specifically, Ivwurie had expressed dissapointment over the level of work done so far at the project site saying, “this specific contractor is obstinately recalcitrant” during inspection of work done by Okpunor’s firm, ULO Consultant Limited.

It was not clear whether the decision to pull out of the project was informed by the action of the State House of Assembly.

Advertisement

THEWILL however at the weekend, quoting sources with knowledge of the development, reported that the contractor’s sudden withdrawal may prompt the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) to downgrade and shut the airport for safety reasons.

The newspaper recalled that the airport had been previously shut over safety concerns after aviation officials expressed concerns over the runway and taxiway, as well as the hills surrounding it.

The State government and the contractor have been trying to correct the issues raised by federal aviation officials without much success. The contractor’s withdrawal will technically mean that the rehabilitation work at the airport has failed at least for now.

Advertisement

ULO in a letter by Uche Okpuno, its chairman, to Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, said his company would begin disengagement from site from November 20, 2017. The letter was dispatched to Okowa yesterday (Friday, November 17, 2017.

“The estimates prepared by the Ministry of Works in 2014 without our inputs negates due process and principle of contract as no reputable Civil Engineering company of competence was involved in the preparing of a competitive Bill of Engineering measurement and evaluation,” the company said.

We gathered that Okowa has declined to review terms of the contract, which was initially awarded by his predecessor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan despite ULO’s insistence that it could not continue to service the project due to rising costs occasioned by the devaluation of the naira.

Advertisement

The disengagement of ULO will not be the first in the Okowa administration, as other notable construction companies such as CCECC, Setraco and Levante have since pulled out due to these same issues, leaving small time companies and enterprises as the only ones used by the government to carry out construction.

In withdrawing their entire services from the state, ULO agreed to review all the works done by them in conjunction with the State Ministry of Works to determine if in their obligation to the state, they owe or the state owes them, including a comprehensive cost audit.

[Widget_Twitter id=”1″]

Advertisement
FEATURED2 hours ago

Delta: Isoko North Chairman Pays Enrollment Fees For All Primary Six Pupils

bolt driver
FEATURED3 hours ago

BREAKING: HoRs Committee Omits ‘Anioma State’ As Warri Makes List Of Proposed 31 New States

OPINION5 hours ago

OVIE OMO-AGEGE’S TRIUMPHANT TOUR IN DELTA NORTH: A TESTAMENT TO HIS POPULARITY AND APC’s BEST BET FOR 2027, BY ENGR. FELIX AKPOYIBO

FEATURED8 hours ago

Support Your Chairmen With ‘Absolute Humility And Loyalty’ – Delta Council Boss To Elected Councillors

Notice of recall
FEATURED8 hours ago

New Twist As INEC Receives Notice Of Recall Of Embattled Delta Rep, Okolie From Constituency

FEATURED10 hours ago

PHOTOS: Ganduje, Keyamo, Others Formally Receive Senator Nwoko Into APC Fold At Party’s Nat. Secretariat

FEATURED19 hours ago

Ned Nwoko: I Took Decision To Join APC After Deep Reflection, Wide Consultation

FEATURED20 hours ago

2027: ‘Power Will Not Be Handed To Anyone Effortlessly’ – Omo-Agege On Forthcoming APC Congresses In Delta

FEATURED1 day ago

UPDATED: Senate Ushers Nwoko To Majority Wing As APC Senator, Sets Up Ad-hoc C’ttee To Investigate PDP Crisis

FEATURED1 day ago

Delta 2027: Omo-Agege Remains APC’s Best Option To Wrestle Power From PDP – Ngozi Olejeme

FEATURED1 day ago

MUCH ADO ABOUT GLOBACOM DURING A FESTIVAL OF JOY, BY TONI KAN

NEWS2 days ago

Senate Committee: Senator Joel-Onowakpo Hails Tinubu, Akpabio, Others

FEATURED2 days ago

Oborevwori Woos Swedish Investors To Delta

NEWS2 days ago

NUJ Warri Correspondents’ Chapel Hails Kestin Pondi On Birthday Anniversary

FEATURED2 days ago

‘Not True Lecturers Outnumbered Students At FCE (Technical), Asaba’ – Provost Hints Of FG Moves To Address Low Enrollment

Advertisement
Advertisement