RAAMP Warns Contractors Against Negligence, Threatens Contract Revocation

The Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project (RAAMP) in Akwa Ibom State has warned contractors handling road projects across the state against negligence and abandonment of work, stating that any contractor found wanting risks having their contract revoked.

The state project coordinator, Pastor Gideon Akpan, issued the warning during an unscheduled technical inspection of project sites in Nsit Ibom Local Government Area over the weekend.

Akpan, who was represented by the lead infrastructure engineer, Ekong Joseph Inyang, said the agency would not tolerate unnecessary delays, noting that all contractors had already been fully mobilised and paid.

During the inspection, Inyang expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of contractors at the project sites. The affected projects include the 8.396-kilometre Ikot Ekan–Ediene Abak Road, the 3.31-kilometre Ikot Isong–Edeobom II Road, and the 2.044-kilometre Ikot Itina–Oniong Road with a spur to Nsemeke Ikpe Market.

He lamented that a significant portion of the work remained unfinished despite the advanced stage the projects should have reached.

Inyang warned that the agency would take decisive action if the contractors failed to immediately return to the sites, adding that other contractors should take the warning seriously.

According to him, the common excuse by some contractors that they are handling multiple projects simultaneously would not be accepted.

He stressed that contractors must have sufficient equipment and manpower to execute more than one project at the same time without causing delays.

Inyang noted that although the consultants supervising the projects had made considerable efforts, the contractors had not been responsive, stressing that RAAMP would consider terminating the contracts if the situation did not improve.

Earlier, the project consultant, Engr. Kelvin Ndukwu, also expressed concern over the slow pace of work and the contractors’ continued absence from the sites.

He said the contractors should have taken advantage of the current favourable weather conditions to speed up the projects, especially since all payments due to them had already been made.

Ndukwu added that several letters and meeting invitations had been sent to the contractors, urging them to return to site.

He warned that if the contractors fail to complete the projects, the contracts may be terminated and reassigned to firms capable of delivering the work within the required timeframe.