Members of the Niger State House of Assembly have asked the contractor handling the ongoing construction work of the IBB University Teaching Hospital in Minna, the state capital, to suspend work on the project.
They alleged non-adherence by the contractor to specifications entered into with the Niger State Government over the teaching hospital.
Suleiman Abubakar Gomna and Umar Nasir, respectively, chairmen of the Joint Committees on Works, and Health and Nutrition, gave the order during an oversight visit to the project site in Minna, where they took a dim view of the firm’s handling of the project.
They claimed that the work was below standard and lacked compliance with the contract specifications.
Gomna observed with dismay the substandard nature of the work, arguing that poor quality work has repercussions that extend to safety and communication, as well as being a waste of time and resources.
His counterpart, Umar Nasir, also noted that durability, strength, and quality of materials play an important role in the safety and longevity of structures.
Meanwhile, the head of project management at Think Lab Group Limited, Mohammed Lawal Aliyu, explained that the project is comprised of three phases that include the renovation of old structures, bringing in new ones and infrastructure such as roads, electrification, water and the supply of medical equipment.
DAILY POST learnt that the firm had so far accessed an advance payment to the tune of N9 billion from the state government, which was meant to forestall sharp practices and ensure the work was done according to specifications.