The Commissioner for Joint Projects and Implementation, John Jacob Okoro has said that his agency will collaborate to make sure that the works done in Abia State are of international standards.
The Commissioner warned that contractors who give Abians substandard works will be eliminated, he said that the works will be checked in order to give the best to Abians who elected the Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu into office.
Speaking with the commissioner who fielded questions from our reporter, he said that the era of nepotism is over as projects will not be given to any relation who cannot do the work assigned.
What are the duties of this Ministry Sir?
The Ministry is a new one. This is the first ministry in charge of joint projects that have been created. It’s all about harnessing, coordinating all the activities of the government where they have joint projects with other agencies, local government, the federal government, diaspora funded projects and foreign direct investment, FDI, and any other assignment that the Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu, Ph.D. deems fit to assign to the Ministry.
We see in Abia State a substandard project which mostly gives way even before the completion of the project, does this mean that your Ministry will oversee all these?
The Ministry will ensure that the best standards are met, right from the bidding if contracts, we must use contractors with relevant experience on the jobs to execute government contracts in collaboration with the agencies mentioned. By doing that, we will eliminate quackery, substandard jobs, building collapse. The end has come for building collapse, abandoned projects, nepotism, no matter how highly placed you are, if you do not have the relevant experience, we won’t allow you bid for the job or do it. That is the mandate that the Governor has given me.
Will you collaborate with the House Committee on projects in Abia House of Assembly in carrying out your duty?
The Ministry is not existing in isolation, we will collaborate, consult and synergies with all relevant agencies, not just the House. There are other agencies that we must adequately consult within the course of doing this job.
Recently, the Federal Government has also just set up a unit to oversee joint projects with States, we will collaborate with such agencies and also international agencies that are interested in doing business Abia State in order to achieve the aims of Government.
What will be the fate of Contractors who gives Abians substandard works?
The contractors who do not meet the standards set by the government and the Ministry of Joint Projects will be eliminated. What we want is to give Abians the best, actualize the promise made by the Governor to Abians. What we are doing is to add value to actualizing the promise made by the Governor to Ndi Abia. The goal is to eliminate nepotism and give jobs to people who are qualified for the jobs.
What are the challenges you think you will face in the space of doing your job?
The challenges here are like that of a newborn baby, the child has to learn how to move, crawl, stand and walk so it’s normal. The first challenge we had was that of accommodation, other Ministries were already situated but because of the importance attached to this ministry, the government has to help us surmount that first and today, we can boast of one of the best accommodations in the Ministry.
We also had to look for relevant personnel, skilled manpower to make us achieve our aim. The challenges we have are not one that can’t be solved especially with a government that’s ready to listen to us so we are doing well in all ramifications.
How will your Ministry manage risks?
The risk element is very important. There are other requirements that we might need when reeling out contracts and projects, if you don’t meet that, we may not give you the job. We may need some bonds from your bank to assure us of your capability in all aspects for us to be able to handover a project of a certain magnitude to you.
Secondly, retention. We will advise for the application of retention to the payment agencies. This means that we don’t pay you fully when you finish a job but a certain percentage then wait a bit to see the durability of the work done and then pay the remaining percentage. This is called retention and it will curtail and manage the risk elements.
What should Abians expect from your Ministry and what advice do you have for Abians?
The Governor, Dr. Okezie Victor Ikpeazu means well for Ndi Abia, in a short while, Abians will see the difference. Over time, Abians will see the massive things the Governor is doing for them so they should be a little patient with the Governor.
Now that the rains are over, more projects are going to be embarked upon especially road projects. If you look around, you will see that projects are being worked upon in some Local Governments, some have an advantage than others.
You can see that Abia South has been marked out for Industrialization and this is where we have the Enyimba Economic City which has been rated as one of the best in the world in terms of economic activities. Abia Central has been marked out for processing of Agricultural products, Abia North in itself has more cocoa, rice processing, and others.
Educationally, Abia State has been ranking Number one in external examinations. There are scholarship schemes for Abians, the Governor just sponsored some Abians abroad so Governor Okezie Ikpeazu means well for Ndi Abia. Looking at the health sector, it has the pillars of this government. So many people will not appreciate what he’s doing until it is unveiled, he means well for Ndi Abia. So Abians should be a little more patient and we will have it good.
Nneka Torti.
