The senate President, Bukola Saraki has revealed reasons for the poor execution of his constituency projects in Kwara state, Igbere has learned.
The Kwara Central Senator said poor implementation by contractors, inadequate coordination by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and the dearth of funds are some of the factors that have hindered his performance in the area of constituency projects execution.
Mr Saraki was reacting to the first part of a PREMIUM TIMES’ report titled; “SPECIAL REPORT: Kwara residents groan as projects nominated by Saraki abandoned, poorly implemented.”
The report, published on December 1, captured how residents of Kwara Central still suffer as multi-million naira projects initiated by Mr Saraki either lie abandoned, poorly implemented or less than half done.
The second part of the report was published on December 22.
In a statement by Olayinka Ibrahim, the Director of Projects, ABS Constituency Office, the lawmaker absolved himself of any wrongdoing, claiming the report was misleading.
Not less than three of Mr Saraki’s media aides were contacted in the course of the report. Meanwhile, only Mr Ibrahim, the fourth contacted, offered explanations on why the projects are in their current state.
Mr Ibrahim also condemned the poor execution of the projects especially the road project at Ero Omo Kilanko rural road and the Sheik Agbarigidoma Road.
In the Sunday statement, Mr Saraki blamed the contractor and the Ministry of Agriculture for poor implementation of the N50 million Ero Omo Kilanko Road.
“Regarding the Ero Omo Kilanko community road: Neither the contractor for the project nor the Ministry of Agriculture —the coordinating MDA — informed the ABS Constituency Office about the commencement of the road project in the area.
“Over the years, the standing practice for such issues has been for the MDA that is implementing the project to communicate with the Constituency Office. This practice allows the Constituency Office to monitor the project’s implementation from commencement to when the project is finally handed over to the community.”
In September, reporters found the road, said to be constructed in March, laced with potholes and without a drainage system.
At the entrance of the road lies two signages, erected by two companies both laying claim to the project. RKK Inspire Limited and Royal Value Int’l Limited raised their signage almost side by side. It is not clear which contractor Mr Saraki is referring to.
Reacting to the report on the Agbarigidoma Road, Mr Saraki confirmed that the ‘newly constructed road’ is in a bad state but blamed the contractor.
“Regarding the Agbari Gidoma Road in Ilorin West Local Government: The contractor handling the project communicated that the project had been awarded to the ABS Constituency Office. Thereafter, the Director of Projects in the Constituency Office visited the site, alongside the contractor, to inform the community about the project.
“At the meeting with the community, the Director of Projects advised the community to constitute a project committee that will relate with the contractor. Additionally, in order to ensure that the community was apprised of the project specifications (i.e. the road length, etc.) the Director of Projects specifically requested that copies of the project documents be given to community leaders.
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