Borno Govt. moves to complete Chibok–Nbalala-Damboa road project

The Borno Government said on Monday that it would ensure the completion of the 34-km Chibok- Nbalala-Damboa road project in 90 days.

The State’s Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Adamu Lawan, made the promise in Maiduguri while speaking with Newsverge.

Lawan said that government had given the contractor, Cumex Nigeria Ltd., handling the job deadline to complete work before 2017 rainy season begins.

“We have the mandate of 90 days grace to complete the project before rains set in.

“We are certain that work will be completed in line with the mandate,’’ he said.

Lawan said since the state was handling the project on behalf of the Federal Government it would seek reimbursement at a later date for the money spent.

“We are going to request for reimbursement from the Federal Government at a later date,’’ he said.

Lawan told Newsverge that the contract for the road construction was awarded few years back by the State Government, but was abandoned due to activities of the insurgents.

“The road is actually a Federal Government road, but we felt that the state could come in to end travelers` nightmare due to its terrible condition.

“The State Government therefore awarded the contract to Cumex Nigeria Ltd. a few years back,’’ he said.

Lawan added that: ‘‘the contractor left the site barely few days after moving to the site due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

“Now that peace has returned to the area, government re-awarded the contract to another firm without additional cost.’’

He said about 50 vehicles and assorted plants had been moved to the site for commencement of work.

“We have so far deployed over 50 assorted vehicles and plants to the site to start work immediately,’’ Lawan added.

The commissioner said he was relocating to the site to supervise work.

“Gov. Kashim Shettima has ordered that I relocate to the area to supervise the work, and by Tuesday I should have moved in line with the directive,’’ he said.

Lawan added that technical officials from Federal Ministry of Work had been incorporated to ensure that quality job was done at the end of the day.

“We incorporated the Federal Ministry of Works Department officials to monitor and ensure good job is done.

“We have two engineers in Damboa at present supervising the preliminary work. God willing we will complete the work in 90 days,’’ he said.