EFO Revives 19 Projects in Erosion Devastated Communities

Reprieve at the weekend, came the way of many erosion prone communities across the country as the Federal Government through the Ecological Fund Office (EFO), showed that it has effectively revived the 19 stalled flood and erosion control projects which had been in the pipeline since 2006. The cheering news is that the Federal Government has now removed all impediments to their take off. 
The revived projects, on which all necessary steps and due process formalities have been completed, are expected to cost the Federal Government about N2Billion; with completion period of between 12-18 months.
In her address at the Flag off Ceremony and Presentation of Documents to Project Consultants, Contractors and Executing Agencies handling the projects in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary of the Ecological Fund Office, Mrs. Ibukun Odusote disclosed that the Flag off of the nineteen critical projects was a further demonstration of the resolve of the Federal Government, not to leave any stone unturned, in addressing ecological problems bedeviling the country.
 The Permanent Secretary who singled out engineers as indispensable professionals whose activities can make or mar a nation’s infrastructural development enjoined all Stakeholders, majority of who are engineers, to see themselves as partners in progress with the Federal Government, who must discharge their duties diligently and with utmost dispatch. 
She warned that the era of frivolous requests for extension of time and other undue delays in project execution are over; she then urged them “to take their respective functions seriously; and ensure that the projects are executed on schedule and to specification”.
Mrs. Odusote admonished all Consultants, Contractors and executing Agencies handling ecological projects that “time is of essence for erosion and flood control projects because they are time-bound; therefore, all stakeholders are advised to work assiduously and conscientiously within time to achieve the target dates of completion of the projects”.
The Permanent Secretary assured the stakeholders not to entertain any fear on payment for job done, because ecological projects have their money set aside “solid and firm” even before commencement of work; and it is in their interest to complete the job on schedule since there is no room for cost variation.
Earlier on, the Director, Soil Erosion and Flood Control at EFO, Mr. Jude Mekwunye, in his welcome address had described the Flag off ceremony as “the present administration’s demonstration of commitment to ameliorate the suffering and hardship of erosion and flood affected communities in our country”.
Representatives of Contractors, Consultants and Executing Agencies who responded one after the other at the occasion, commended the EFO for steps taken to revive the projects, promised to abide by the terms of contract agreement and deliver on schedule.
The revamped projects cut across the six geo-political zones of the country.