The Plateau State government has mobilised contractors to complete legacy projects abandoned by the immediate past administration, Mr Samuel Jatau, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), has disclosed.
Jatau told newsmen on Tuesday in Mangu that the projects had been renamed ‘special intervention projects’.
The SSG, who led other government officials to the project sites in Mangu, Pankshin and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas, said that the projects were scattered across the 17 local governments of the state.
“They were initially valued at slightly above N29 billion and later reviewed to N52 billion.
“When the Gov Caleb Mutfwang administration came on board in 2023, it constituted an audit committee to look into the projects with a view to completing them.
“Our aim is to ensure that all abandoned projects are completed and put to use for the benefit of our people.
“So, work has resumed at various sites with contractors and consultants appointed to oversee each of the three senatorial zones. We want quality service delivery to ensure value for money,” he said.
Jatau said that some of the projects, when completed, would be handed over to some Federal Government agencies.
He listed federal outfits expected to use the projects as Federal Polytechnic, Shendam, National Open University of Nigeria, while those in Mangu and Jos East would be delivered to the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps as training school.
“The idea is to support the federal government outfits to operate with ease in the state,” he explained.
The SSG further said that the projects, which would be completed in phases, would be ready for use by August.
He promised that all the projects would be completed with key ones already identified to be completed in the first phase.
According to him, N14 billion will be required to complete the first phase.
Mr Everest Miri, Principal consultant for the projects, while faulting their general design, said they were “planned to fail”.
“The projects were not planned to succeed because all of them were handled by one contractor and supervision was difficult.
“What we have brought to the table is proper planning. We wish to assure the Plateau people that they will get value for their money,” he said.
The special intervention projects largely consist of hospitals and schools.
