News
Kopek vows not to compromise quality, as Moniya-Iseyin road project reaches 40% completion
Kopek Construction Company, handling the reconstruction of Moniya-Iseyin road, on Wednesday reassured that it will not compromise quality and standard to get the job done.
Kopek, also confirmed that work on the 65-kilometre Moniya/Ijaiye/Iseyin road in Oyo state, has reached 40 per cent completion.
It will be recalled that the immediate past government of Senator Abiola Ajimobi had in February 2018 awarded the contract for the rehabilitation of the road at the cost of N7 billion, out of which N2 billion was paid to the contractor who could not deliver on the terms.
Governor Seyi Makinde had to revoke the contract after lamenting the slow pace of work and shoddy job being done.
According to the state government, through its Commissioner for Works and Transport, Prof. Raphael Afonja, the reviewed road reconstruction work would cost N9.9 billion, noting that several key components in the road project had been upgraded for it to be qualitative, long-lasting and fitted to serve the state better.
Addressing journalists during an inspection tour of the road project on Wednesday, the Project Manager, Engr. Paul Chamoun assured that despite COVID-19 impacts and the unfavorable weather due to rains, work is progressing at the project site. He maintained that the project which was awarded in January, 2020 is billed for completion in twelve months without compromising its quality.
Reacting to the impacts of COVID-19 on the ongoing road project, Chamoun lamented, “‘truly, COVID-19 deadly pandemic has disturbed our planning for sure just like everybody in all the world. 4-5 weeks that we stopped, the problem was that it was in the dry season, so if you want to count it per day (5weeks), we say its only like 40 days. But, 40 days or 30 days in dry season, its not like the 40 days in the rainy season; because what we can achieve in 40 days that we stopped, you can consider it as 2 months during the rainy season.
“You know we cannot work everyday with the same pace of work that will be achieved on a daily basis as planned because of the rain. And, as everybody knows, we are concern with the quality, we are not going to compromise with the quality. So, if there is rain and there are some jobs or activities that cannot be done because it will affect the quality, we will not do it.
“Before COVID-19, my target was to finish as planned, based on that, we have mobilised. With this our plan, we will finish in twelve months. You know that the job is 65km, it is not a small job at all. COVID-19 came, it was unplanned and unexpected, we have lost more than one month and after that, the rainy season, who knows later on what will happen? Now, I have doubled my efforts to compensate the days that were lost”.
He continued, “you know the percentage can be varied. If you want to take it as money or you want to take it as completion of works because there are some items that will take too much time like the concretes. It is less in money than the asphalt.
“The asphalt is very fast and the money is more. We are working on items that will take time and the other one will be more easy for us. Now, we are at 38% of completion of works and by God’s grace, we will reach 40% next week (July Ending)”.
The Project Manager, however informed that Kopek will be responsible for the maintenance of the road, at least for twelve months, after commissioning.
“God forbid, if something happens, it will show on the road, during this one year of maintenance, and we will fix it. Almost 6 months of rainy season, 6 months of dry season, all the possible cars and transport will pass on this road. As everybody knows, Kopek will not compromise with the quality. At the end of the day, we are taking care of the maintenance for one year, so its not nice to compromise now and repeat the job again”, he explained.
Nigerian Police authorities have released Daniel Ojukwu, the detained journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ).
Ojukwu, who went missing with his phone numbers switched off and whereabouts unknown to colleagues until it was found out he was detained by the police, regained his freedom on Friday.
“Daniel Ojukwu, the FIJ reporter who was abducted by men of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector-General of Police, has regained freedom after 10 days in police captivity,” the FIJ wrote on its website about Ojukwu’s release.
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“Ojukwu went missing on Wednesday, May 1, his numbers switched off and his whereabouts unknown to colleagues, family and friends.”
He was detained for purportedly infringing upon the country’s Cybercrime Act, widely condemned as a means of censorship.
The journalist’s apprehension and subsequent relocation to Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, came after his coverage of suspected financial mismanagement totaling over N147 million ($104,600) implicating a senior government official, as reported by his employer.
A banner is displayed during a protest at the Force Headquarters in Abuja demanding the release of Daniel Ojukwu on May 9, 2024, Thursday. Credit: @BukkyShonibare
Following his arrest, friends, colleagues, and supporters rallied behind Ojukwu, demanding his release.
I On Thursday, a coalition of media and civil society groups staged a protest at the Force Headquarters in Abuja, condemning his prolonged detention.
Addressing journalists, spokesperson Bukky Shonibare expressed concern over the escalating attacks on press freedom and the stifling of dissenting voices.
She emphasised that after nine days in detention, during which Ojukwu was allegedly arrested on the orders of the inspector general of police, the authorities were obligated to either press charges or release him unconditionally.
Upon Ojokwu’s release, an elated Bukky expressed gratitude on her social media handle, thanking Nigerians for their unwavering support.
“Daniel Ojukwu is free. Thank you, Nigerians,” she shared. “Thank you, everyone.”
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