April 03, (THEWILL) – Construction workers with Quemecs Nigeria Limited, the original contractors of the Ring road 2 project, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, have appealed to the state governor, Udom Emmanuel, to pay the outstanding owed the company to enable it to pay them their entitlements.
A subcontractor with Quemecs Nigeria Limited, Mr Isaac Ibanga, who made the appeal on behalf of others, while speaking to THEWILL correspondent in Uyo on Sunday, lamented that despite their plea, the state government was yet to pay the balance of the contract sum owed the company.
THEWILL recalls that the state government last year, revoked the contract with Quemecs and awarded the same to an indigenous construction firm, Hensek Integrated company limited, leaving an outstanding balance of about N596.48m due to be paid to the first construction firm.
Ibanga, who represents Sikak firm Nigeria Ltd, lamented that government’s refusal to pay the outstanding balance has caused untold hardship, adding that about four of the contractors have died, while some have been bedridden as a result of their inability to meet the demand of their various creditors due to government’s indebtedness to Quemecs.
According to him, “Some contractors borrowed money from the bank, some borrowed from associations and individuals to execute the contract, hoping they would be paid, but up till date, nothing has been done. The situation has caused frustration and untold hardship. About four of our members have died, while some of them are in the hospital, yet the government has refused to pay.”
He disclosed that Sikak firm Nigeria Ltd, constructed the entire drainage placement of the Ring road project, that is still in use, adding that it’s indebted to the tune of N18m, representing the amount that was sourced from his bank to execute the project.
“We did the drainage placement to a far distance. To my surprise, payment ceased in 2019. Later we heard that the mother company’s (Quemecs) contract was revoked and we expected that the severance packages should be paid, we are not interested in who carries on the project, but what we are saying is that the government should pay the outstanding balance”, he said.
He said they have written several letters to both Quemecs, adding that efforts to get the attention of the relevant ministry and parastatals have proved abortive.
“We have toed the path of peace since that time, we have appealed to and written various letters to Quemecs, but we understand that the state government has not paid them.
“We wrote to the state government, copied the governor and other relevant parastatals, but they will tell you that they don’t have any business with subcontractors, they gave the job to Quemecs, but people are dying here”, he queried.
However, when contacted the project manager, Quemecs Nigeria Limited, Engr Stephen Oluyemi, lamented that the state government has yet to pay the company the outstanding balance of N596.48m Million, which will enable them to pay the suppliers and subcontractors.
According to him, ”The truth is that we owed the Indigenes, subcontractors and suppliers huge amounts of money. They have been writing to us, but the issue is that we have not been paid the money by the state government.
“The work from three years ago was at about 70% completion, until Covid-19 came and the government did not pay. Since then we have been expecting payment.
“In February 2021, what rather came was a letter of termination and they re-awarded the contract to another company, since then we’ve not received our money.
Efforts to speak with the state commissioner of Works and Fire Service, Prof. Eno Ibanga, was not successful as at the time of filing this report, as he could not pick his calls and did not respond to text messages sent to his phone.
Meanwhile, a copy of the letter addressed to the state Governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, sighted by THEWILL correspondent in Uyo, through the solicitor to Quemecs Nigeria Limited, Barr O. Ogunbiyi, called on the state government to pay the outstanding amount without further delay.
