By Stephen Gbadamosi, Ibadan
House of Representatives Committee on Works has embarked on another oversight function, expressing satisfaction with the progress of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Akin Alabi, in a statement on Tuesday, May 6, said “during a visit to inspect the ongoing construction on Monday, we expressed appreciation for the contractor’s high-quality work.”
They praised the Federal Ministry of Works for its diligent oversight.
Alabi said: “From our part in the parliament, our job is clear. If you want N100, for instance, we give you N50. When you show us what you have done with it and reasons to give you the balance of N50—if you require more after that – the parliament looks at it and chooses whether to approve or decline.
“In this case, based on what we have approved, there are contingencies that can accommodate changes.
“However, if they need more, they bring the matter to the parliament —Committee of Works —; we will deliberate on it and support them the best we can.
“They have proven that the little they have received was used judiciously; so, there is no reason we would not approve.
“And I have the authority of the Honourable Speaker of the House, Mr. Tajudeen Abass, that whatever they need — within reasonable limit — the parliament would approve for them,” he said.
Alabi added that the Federal Controller of Works in Lagos, Mrs. Olukorede Kesha, conveyed her gratitude to the committee for conducting independent assessment and for praising both the contractor and the Ministry for the high standard of work completed so far.
She was quoted as saying: “Though we want to solve situations, we do not want to put it on the ground. And we don’t want to waste the scarce resources that the nation has at the moment.
“So, we need to watch the behavior of the field material and then see how it reacts to the pressure applied.”
