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The on going construction of major streets/roads in Orogodo metropolis which many Ika sons and daughters have variously condemned as a result of the glaring slow pace and obviously uncompleted work that has characterized most of the projects, has also been noted of recent by the Dein of Agbor kingdom, His Royal Majesty Keagborekuzi 1st who, on Wednesday, May 13, 2009, summoned the Managing Director of ROTEC Construction Company to his palace.
Welcoming the contractor, Mr. Roland Dore, and some of his workers to the palace, the spokesman for the Dein of Agbor, and one of the chiefs, said that for quite some time now, the palace has received so much criticism from the Ika community concerning the slow pace of the work which ROTEC Construction Company has been doing, and accusing the traditional ruler of not doing anything about it. He specifically made mention of the Dr. Whyte, Imudia and Osuhon streets, all in Agbor metropolis town in Ika South Local Government Area which he said, have began to deteriorate as a result of abandonment. He also noted with disapproval, a situation whereby Dr. Whyte street was constructed halfway, from the Old Lagos-Asaba road, to a point, instead of constructing and completing the job from the beginning to the Benin-Asaba expressway where the street ends. Also noted were some parts of Osuhon and Imudia streets, which have not been attended to, by the contractor. The spokes man therefore, asked Mr. Dore to explain to the Dein, why the projects have remained unfinished, bearing in mind that the rain is already setting in.
In response, the ROTEC boss Mr. Dore told the gathering that the contract, which was awarded in 2008 took him about three months to mobilize workers and equipment to the sites. He revealed that some of the contributing factors that have retarded the progress of the work were the difficult terrain, which, nevertheless, he said the company has been able to tackle, by concentrating on the construction of drainage systems before spreading asphalt on the roads, and also the bureaucratic nature of getting funds from the government.
Another sordid revelation from the contractor during his explanation was that some of the roads which were awarded to him were to be constructed halfway. He gave an example of the Imudia stretch of the roads, which he said measures about 990 metres, but that his client, the Ministry of Environment awarded him a contract, to reconstruct and complete only 500 metres of Imudia street. According to Mr. Dore, it is only in a bid to deliver a complete and long-lasting job that he decided to extend the work a little beyond the specified length, which the Ministry of Environment awarded to him.
By that shocking revelation, the Chiefs unanimously asked the ROTEC boss to produce the statement and plans of his projects that have been awarded to him by the ministry. He was also told to construct signposts that will indicate his job specifications and place them at the sites of his projects, just like other construction companies use to do. That, they said, will help the community to know the extent of the work that will be carried out in their area.
Before leaving the venue, the ROTEC boss was made to let the Dein know when the work will be finished, upon which he promised the gathering that, inspirte of the sluggish flow of funds from the government, and notwithstanding the fast approaching rainy season, Dr. Whyte road and a portion of Osuhon street in the Orogodo metropolis, which are being handled by him, will be completed within two weeks from the date of his summons to the palace. He was therefore urged to keep to his promises, in order to avoid further embarrassment.
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