Lack of Equipment May Mar Reconstruction Of PH Airport

By Amadi Gilbert

The Federal Government's demand that it wanted a total overhaul/reconstruction of the Port Harcourt International Airport, might turn out a mirage as the contractor, Inter Bua Limited handling the project is doing a shoddy job because of lack of equipment.

Our correspondent reports that since last year the Federal Government awarded the job, the contractor had been on soil testing, tests allegedly being carried out without the required equipment, adding that the workers use bare hands to break stones instead of using machines like pay loaders and excavators to quicken the pace of work.

Worst still, the total reconstruction demanded by the Federal Government is said to have been abandoned and a piece meal approach adopted whereby parts of the structure were being demolished and expanded.

In a bid to find out why the contractor was so slow and doing a shoddy job, Airport correspondents contacted the project engineer, Mr. Idika Okechukwu who declined comments for lack of authority, but maintained that irrespective of the slow pace of work, the company must deliver as at when due.

He showed journalists the real master plan of the renovation, something which looks like an enclosed motor park with big umbrella decorating car parks.

If both the Federal and the Rivers State Governments are insisting on a good reconstruction work on the airport they should set up a monitoring team that will be overseeing what the contractor is doing.###