Nyanya Labour Camp: Contractor seeks FCT minister’s action

The provision of engineering infrastructure works to Gidan Daya urban renewal site is only 15 percent completed after the construction company has spent over half of the contract time. The project was awarded to Nairda Ltd, a firm said to have experience in infrastructure, electrical and mechanical works. The contract costing over N14 billion was […]

The provision of engineering infrastructure works to Gidan Daya urban renewal site is only 15 percent completed after the construction company has spent over half of the contract time.
The project was awarded to Nairda Ltd, a firm said to have experience in infrastructure, electrical and mechanical works. The contract costing over N14 billion was awarded on July 4, 2014 with completion time of three years. Work commenced on September 4, 2014. But after spending half of the contract time, only 15 percent of work is done, the Head of Infrastructure, Nairda Ltd., Yair Segal confirmed.
Our reporter who visited Gidan Daya was told that site clearance has attained a total of about 11 kilometers. Earthwork quantities of 41,280m3 out of 329,000m3 has been achieved. Over all percentage completion is 15.
It was gathered that though the project is funded through statutory budget, the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) Special Intervention has contributed to the settlement of 10 percent of mobilization advance/certificate of variation (CV No.1) to the tune of N1.4 billion out of the 15 percent mobilisation advance of N2.1 billion. Segal said the major challenge is inadequate funding.
Segal who spoke with Daily Trust in Abuja last Wednesday said, “We’re to collect 15 percent but we’re given 10 percent. We issued certificate number two which is not yet paid.”
He said according to the contract terms, government was to release N4 billion every year to Nairda but that was not done. “I want the minister to appreciate this project because of the importance attached to it,” he appealed.
He said his company mobilized to site fully with over 200 equipment but lack of payment has crippled the company, adding that both expatriate and local staff have been laid off to offset costs. He said equipment have been idle for over one year and this has caused the company huge loses. He said his company will be forced to reduce the scope of works because of the economic situation.
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) in 2014 signed the contract for provision of engineering infrastructure to Gidan Daya, the site marked for relocation of residents of Nyanya Labour Camp Quarters in Abuja. The Gidan Daya site located in Kurudu District of FCT covers 147 hectares.
Nairda Ltd was given 36 months to build roads totaling 17.23km, pave roads of laterite sub-base and do asphaltic concrete finishing. It was to construct trapezoidal concrete lined drains of 24,810m, box culverts of various sizes totaling 200m and pipe culverts of various sizes totaling 1,720m.
The company is to lay 23,545m length of kerbs, do stone pitching and grassing and provide water and electricity including street lighting as well as telephone ducts.
The former Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide who signed the documents on behalf of FCTA said this was a way of providing decent accommodation for the people of Nyanya Labour Camp Quarters.
“It’s about moving people from slum to a place of dignity,” she expressed.
 According to her ancillary facilities like hospital, market, school and sporting area will be provided. She said the project was being funded through both statutory budget and SURE-P funds.
The Head of Infrastructure, Nairda Ltd., Segal who signed the contract on behalf of Nairda Ltd promised to do good job and in time.  He however urged government to remove encumbrances on the access road to the project site saying it was too congested.
Segal lamented that it takes over two hours to move heavy equipment from Nyanya to the project site due to congestion and narrowness of the Nyanya-Karshi road, stressing that this wears the equipment and adds cost.
After the provision of engineering infrastructure, contract will be awarded for the building of the houses which it was gathered are one-bedroom and two-bedroom flats. In all, 6,993 homes are covered in the Labour Camp Quarters relocation plan.

Senate queries FCT minister
Following this low performance by the company, the Senate Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare asked the FCT Minister to explain. A letter addressed to the FCT minister, seeking information on government poverty intervention programmes demanded the minister to provide details on various sums of budgeted money utilized by the administration in 2014 and 2015.
The letter dated December 8, 2015 with Reference No. NASS/S/PASW/59/02/15 was signed by Committee Clerk B. S. Maina.
Item C of the letter reads: “Details of 2014 budgeted sum of N13 billion out of which the sum of N12,799,942,439.37 was released, disbursed and utilized for the provision of infrastructure and service to Gidan Daya District for the resettlement of Nyanya Labour Camp, Wasa and Mamusa West District as well as other construction works in the FCT.” FCTA has responded saying lack of funds is the major challenge.

State of Nyanya Labour Camp
The Nyanya Labour Camp Quarters was meant to be temporary residential place for construction workers who were in Abuja when works on the new federal capital started in the 80’s. But with the speedy growth of the city, this labour camp became heavily congested and the houses decayed even as amenities equally quenched. Now, there is no pipe borne water there.
The United Nations Habitat, it was that pointed at these houses with much concern urging FCTA to act fast. The old rusty corrugated iron sheets atop Nyanya houses have turned dark brown and leak badly. The peeling walls are bare and coarse. Toilet walls in particular are replete with gashes and do collapse even as alleys are horrid with sewage from either broken or overflowing soak-aways.

Residents’ appeal
 The chairman of Nyanya Residents Community, Patrick Ivongbe said the Gidan Daya project is a misplaced priority. He said, “We’re no more talking about Gidan Daya. When ADB [African Development Bank officials] came, we had a meeting of all stakeholders. We told them that, that land in Gidan Daya is no longer ours because it has been encroached upon. Nyanya [Labour Camp Quarters] should be reconstructed. We already have infrastructure in Nyanya – all that needs be done is upgrading. We’ve submitted a report to government.”
FCTA initially earmarked relocation of the labour camp people to Gidan Mangoro. It was later realised that the land in Gidan Mangoro had been sold.  The adjoining land to Gidan Daya became the next option.
Olajumoke Akinjide told the House of Representatives Committee on FCT during oversight visit in 2014 that Gidan Mangoro was no more for what it was earlier designated.
She told the House committee that the labour camp occupants of 6,993 households would “soon” be relocated to Gidan Daya. How soon was the question the legislators did not ask.