Abia State: Project inspection not a witch hunt – Onyendilefu, Okoro

As the inspection of local Govt projects continues, Chief Gabriel C.Onyendilefu and Chief J.J. Okoro have reminded Council chiefs that the exercise is not borne out of witch hunt but in a bid to ascertain the level of compliance to the electoral promises of the executive Governor ,Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D. The Commissioners made the statement at Okpualangwa,headquarters of Isiala Ngwa North Local Government ,during the ongoing projects inspection / evaluation tour of the Local Governments in Abia State .

Chief J.J.Okoro, the Honorable Commissioner for Special duties and Joint Projects, reminded the Transition Committee Chairman that the team is interested in the compliance to standard and due process order than in multiplication of projects that can hardly stand the text of time.” Governance,according to Chief G.C. Onyendilefu, is a continuum” hence efforts must be made,by succeeding TC Chairmen, to complete projects initiated  by their predecessors.”

Earlier in his address, the Isiala Ngwa Council TC boss, Hon.Nwogwugwu Udo Y.O., welcomed the guest Commissioners and their team to his Council and thanked them for their diligence in carrying out the assignment given them by the Governor of the state. He also expressed thanks to God for the victory of His Excellency, the Governor, at the Supreme court, over Dr Alex Otti of APGA . According to Hon. Nwogwugwu,the victory testifies that “Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu’s mandate is divinely ordained”. He also acknowledged that the visit of the project monitoring team is”an eloquent testimony, to the fact, that Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu Ph.D will not relent in the delivery of democracy dividends to the people of Isiala Ngwa North L.G.A and the entire Abia State.”

The TC Chairman further listed  both the ongoing and completed projects in his Council that is available for inspection. He mentioned four key projects:  Ultra modern Motor Park at Isiala Ngwa Junction (Ahiaba Okpuala), Street Lightning Project at Okpuala Ngwa, Three classroom blocks with Headmaster’s office at Migrant Primary School Ihie and Two boreholes at the Local Government Headquarters.

During the inspection tour, which took the team to the four projects mentioned by the Council boss and others executed by past TC Chairmen, the Honorable  Commissioners acknowledged that the projects are indeed ambitious but enjoined the TC Chairman  to stick to standard and due process in the implementation of all projects. On the borehole projects, within the Council premises, the Project inspection team emphasised that the reticulation of the completed water project should be done immediately to enable staff enjoy the facilities. The team also advised that efforts should be made to resolve issues with PHCN to enable the Council enjoy regular electricity supply instead of relying on Generator.

At the on going ultra modern Park, the inspection team observed that the Lock up stores ,albeit commendable, are too close to the high tension cable hence the need to get a clearance certificate from PHCN authorizing them to proceed with the project.The Council chief was also encouraged to intensify efforts to resolve whatever disputes that exists with the hosts villages on the Motor park  and at the Ntigha market projects.

Overall, the Inspection team was pleased with the performance of Isiala Ngwa North Council but believes, however, that there is room for improvement.