…Cut down contractor money to N898m
From: Olanrewaju Lawal, Birnin-Kebbi
The Kebbi State Government has commenced the rehabilitation of 37-year-old Dikku Water Works with additional laying of new pipes to supply water across Birnin-Kebbi metropolis.
The project, which was awarded to Chinese Construction Company, China Zhonghao/Brosino Investment Ltd. with the proposed contracts cost of N1 billion was cut -down to N898 million by the Due Process Office of the State Government.
Speaking with journalists at the site of the waterworks, Chairman of Due Process at the Governor Office,Engr. Mohammed Siraju Garba, disclosed that the contract sum was reduced after intelligence investigation by his office on the materials proposed to be use on the project.
He said: ” We have the standard designed for the project and whatever they are going to use must be standard. All these pipes they brought here were from their headquarters are of high standard. That caused delay,because they imported from China.”
While speaking on the contract cost, Garba said, “The company submitted about a billion and when we did our intelligent investigation, we reduced it to N898 million. The company agreed because at the end of the day, they would also be happy.”
He added that the company had told the state government that it would complete the project within 12 months instead of 18 months.
The Company’s Project Manager, Mr. Wei Meng, in an interview with journalists, disclosed that 15 of 35 trucks containing 20 pieces of heavy pipes each, had arrived the site. He stressed that their job now was to begin the second phase of the project which was laying of pipes.
He added that they would not compromise on the quality of the works they would render to the state government because they have their names to be protected.
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