By ALEX ENEBELI

The Enugu State Governments has issued a 20-day ultimatum to contractors handling its road projects to speed up all the ongoing phase one projects across the state or be sanctioned.

The Enugu State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Gerald Otiji, read the riot act on Tuesday when he inspected some of the projects.

Otiji warned that failure to meet the deadline would attract sanctions in line with the laws of the land and their contract terms.

He said the ultimatum became necessary following the directive of Gov. Peter Mbah, that all ongoing urban road projects must be completed immediately.

“We are making it very clear that it is unacceptable to our government the slow pace at which some of these construction firms are going about their jobs.

“Though, they have been doing quality work, we want them to double their efforts and deliver within time,” Otiji said.

Otiji, therefore, urged the contractors to work day and night to meet the deadline, stressing that companies that failed to meet the deadline would be blacklisted.

He commended some of the contractors, especially those that handled the Phone Village Road, Fire Service, New Haven Market Road, College Road, Dayspring/Lagos Street, Police College and Agbani Road, for completing their jobs on time.

The commissioner, who said there would be no excuse for delay since the government had mobilised them, explained that the governor was determined to ensure that all roads were connected to ease movement of persons and goods.

“I have just reminded them of the consequences of not meeting up with the timeline pegged for them at the inception of the contract.

“We have paid them. So, they have no excuses to make.

“We will be tracking their progress daily because I have instructed them for a daily report,” he said.

He noted that the governor had already declared a state of emergency on the area of infrastructure, adding that the administration of Mbah was eager to achieve everything contained in the Social Contract with the people of the state.

He called on the people to support the governance process by ensuring they report acts of sabotage, vandalism and suspected attempts to subvert the peace of the state. (NAN)

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