…Contractors Abandon Project As Only Four Of 96 Units Near Completion
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have raised concerns over the slow pace and poor quality of work on the 96-unit Renewed Hope Affordable Housing Programme project in Delta State.
The concerns were raised during an inspection of the project located along the Asaba Uvwie Ekpan axis by the FRC South South Verification Team as part of its ongoing assessment of selected Federal Government projects in the region.
The team observed that only four of the 96 housing units were nearing completion, while roofing, road, drainage and other infrastructure works remained incomplete.
Speaking during the inspection, the Team Lead and Head of Strategic Communications Directorate of the FRC, Bede Ogueri Anyanwu, said the state of the project did not reflect the objectives of the Renewed Hope Affordable Housing Programme, which was designed to improve living conditions and expand access to affordable housing.
He urged the contractors handling the project to return to the site and complete the outstanding works in line with approved specifications and quality standards.
“The level of work observed at the site does not reflect the objectives of the programme. The contractors need to return to the site and complete their respective assignments to the required standards,” Anyanwu said.
He specifically called on M/s Goodnews Creative Ideas Limited and M/s First Class Capital Project Limited to resume work and address outstanding components, particularly the roofing of the buildings.
The verification team also observed that wind had damaged some roofing sheets already installed on sections of the buildings, prompting concerns over the durability of the materials and quality of workmanship.
The team further questioned why several components of the project had yet to commence despite the contracts reportedly being awarded in 2024.
Contractors and consultants listed as responsible for the outstanding components include M/s Gozcon Investment, handling electrical works; M/s Blue Sea Investment Limited and M/s Goodnews Creative Ideas Limited, responsible for road and drainage works; and M/s Ecosphere Consulting Limited, engaged as consultant for the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment of the estate.
The representative of the Controller, Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Delta State, Architect Uche Nwati, was invited to explain the limited progress recorded at the site.
Nwati attributed some of the challenges to inadequate feasibility studies conducted before the contracts were awarded, while also expressing dissatisfaction with the level of work executed.
The FRC team stressed that contractors handling Federal Government projects must comply with approved specifications, timelines and quality standards, particularly where such projects are intended to provide critical social infrastructure.
The inspection was part of the Commission’s ongoing physical verification of selected Federal Government projects across the South-South geopolitical zone, aimed at assessing implementation, value for money and compliance with approved standards and specifications.
