Gracia Simeon-Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Governor, David Umahi has warned contractors of the ring road project in the state to always be cautious of their lives and equipments.
According to him, as Chief Security Officer of the state, he will not guarantee the life and properties of contractor who fails to adhere to his advise of adequate security in the project sites.
Governor Umahi gave the charge during an enlarge security council meeting held at his office, centenary city Abakaliki on Wednesday.
He then suspended all operation on the ongoing project in Effium, Ohaukwu local government Area following the abduction of five NENA Engineers in the state by the unknown gunmen.
Umahi however, ordered all the traditional rulers, Town Union Presidents, Chairmen of the local government and coordinators Where the roads are passed to sworn affidavit of taking responsibility for the security of the contractors, consultants, everyone involved in the discharge of their duties and also their equipments.
According to him, he will shot down any sections that will not comply to the directives within seven days.
The meeting was attended by all the security chiefs, Council Chairmen, traditional rulers, coordinators, Townunion Presidents,
“I want to see your lives as safe and work without fear and this must happen within the next seven days. You don’t play a game with your security, there is insecurity all over the country and Ebonyi state is not different but through the help of the people here, we are doing even better than other states but nothing is taking for granted.
“I will not guarantee as the chief security officer the lives and properties of anybody who fails to comply to this two sense of directives.
“On the Effium axis, am suspending all operation on the site there for the next seven days. We will want semilar commitment front the stakeholders there. 20 People from Effium and 20people from Effium Ezza side that will get committed together with the traditional rulers, Town Union Presidents, Chairmen and coordinators that will get commitment that we can return to site. If you want to inspect the equipment of the contractors, you can inspect it outside the site and I am not going to release any money for mobilization to that section until I am sure that the work will be done.
“I commend CP, ARMY and DSS very highly Since we heard of the urgly incident which we cannot really say this is where it happened, there are speculation and rumors but I believe that today, we find out exactly what happened there . It very unfortunate that the consultant weed our lane down rules by going there without informing us, and going their without security, it is very very unfortunate.
“I continue to say that you cannot be more popular than Pope, If you were going there and you know that the place is wanton area, the CP, Army, Project implementation, did not know and non of us did not know, but is too early to conclude. I have Schedule a meeting with the consultant family incidentally, they are Five and the other four are not known to us because non of them are listed as staff of the consultant in the agreement we signed. Only NENA the lead consultant listed. The company is making efforts to get a state resident engineer but I am told that the resident Engineer is afraid, so we have agreed that we will get a resident engineer locally. SPIU will continue to discharge in all functions meanwhile their are low responsibility that cannot be handled now while we get resident engineers”.
