Niger state Director-General of the Public Private Partnership Agency, Alhaji Shehu Kudu Mohammed, has said that the contractor handling the extension of Minna General Hospital could only access government fund when it execute 36.6 per cent of the job.
The director-general stated this yesterday while briefing journalists on the progress of the project.
He said government had issued irrevocable standing payment order and that the technical committee monitoring the project confirmed that the level of work done on site was below the 36.6 per cent set in the contract agreement for first instalment.
He explained that at the execution of 36.6 per cent of the project, the developing partners would be entitled for payment of N500 million out of the total sum of N1.4 billion of the project.
He said the project which included the construction of 134 beds neonatal hospital with equipment was expected to be completed in eight months,
adding that “we are sure that the job we be delivered on schedule.”
Mohammed said the Agency was satisfied with the standard of job done, but that the government would only release its counterpart fund depending on the level of work and not on the time spent on site.
He blamed the seeming slow pace of the job on the mashing nature of the site adding that the construction firm has overcome the challenges and that work will speed up soon.
He solicited for the cooperation and support of the residents of Minna to the developers to ensure successful completion of the project which, he said, would improve health care delivery in the state.
