FCTA threatens streetlight contractors, says Abuja in darkness

The Coordinator,  Abuja Metropolitan Management Council ( AMMC), Chief Felix Obuah, on Tuesday, lambasted streetlights contractors over their failure to keep to the terms of the contract, vowing that the Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) will never renew any contractual relationship with any defaulting companies. 

Obuah who gave the warning on Tuesday when he briefed newsmen on the issues that affect Abuja’s streetlights and the continued darkness in almost all the districts, also vowed never to pay anybody for causing perpetual darkness in Abuja.

He lamented that FCT administration considered some companies,  gave them contracts for the maintenance and security of the streetlights, but abandoned the terms of the contract. 

Obuah who expressed concern over the non functional streetlights in Abuja, said that the administration would never consider defaulting companies for any job, especially those who have contributed to the pervading darkness in Abuja’s streets, due to incompetence. 

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According to him, he has taken a tour of most of the districts and have observed an alarming situation where the lights are not functioning and some of the infrastructures have been vandalised. 

He said, “ I am not impressed with the way you have handled the maintenance and security aspects of these contracts. 

“ I’m aware that this contract is for maintenance and security of street lights. But I have personally moved round your areas of operation and I can say that the city is dark, that is to say that the request for your payment has been processed and done, yet your work is not being done perfectly as agreed. Why must we continue to patronize and pay you when the job is not being done? This is unacceptable. 

“ Why must we complain about security and vandalisation? It is your duty to provide the security to guide the facilities. If the bulbs are dead it is your duty to replace them. 

“ From what we are seeing now, I don’t think any of you is living up to that agreement you have entered with AMMC. That is why I have called you to let us know what are the problems. If there are areas we feel we can come in, we will. But if we continue like this, I can tell you we don’t care. We will black list the contractor and if you have even applied, we will make sure that you don’t get it. Then we will get a contractor who can do the job because we can see that this I-don’t-care attitude some contractors have taken is not safe. 

“ I’m not interested in pulling anybody, I’m more interested in the job to be done. I want to assure that those of you who are ready to partner with us , we will make sure that we don’t stop supporting and work as a team”, he added.