By Nkechi Eze
The Fiscal Responsibility Commission (FRC) and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development have faulted the slow pace of work at the Renewed Hope Affordable Housing Programme project in the Asaba-Uvwie-Ekpan axis of Delta State, with only four of the 96 housing units nearing completion.
The concern was raised during an inspection by the FRC South-South Verification Team on Selected Federal Government Projects as part of its ongoing physical verification exercise across the region. The team observed that several components of the project, including roofing, electricity, roads and drainage infrastructure, remained incomplete or had yet to commence, despite the contracts reportedly having been awarded in 2024.
The Team Lead and Head of the Strategic Communications Directorate of the FRC, Mr. Bede Ogueri Anyanwu, expressed concern over the pace and quality of work, noting that the level of progress recorded did not reflect the objectives of the Renewed Hope Affordable Housing Programme.
He said the programme was designed to improve living conditions and expand access to affordable housing and essential services, stressing the need for contractors to return to the site and complete their assignments in line with approved standards.
Anyanwu specifically called on M/s Goodnews Creative Ideas Limited and M/s First Class Capital Project Limited to resume work and address outstanding tasks, particularly roofing.
The team also observed that wind had damaged some roofing sheets installed on sections of the buildings, raising questions about the durability of the materials and the quality of workmanship.
Other outstanding components identified during the inspection included electricity works assigned to M/s Gozcon Investment; road and drainage infrastructure handled by M/s Blue Sea Investment Limited and M/s Goodnews Creative Ideas Limited; and the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment entrusted to M/s Ecosphere Consulting Limited.
The representative of the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in Delta State, Architect Uche Nwati, was invited to explain the project’s status and the reasons for the limited progress.
Nwati attributed some of the challenges to what he described as inadequate feasibility studies conducted before the contracts were awarded. He also expressed dissatisfaction with the level of work executed at the site.
The FRC verification team emphasised that contractors handling Federal Government projects must deliver in accordance with approved specifications, timelines and quality standards, particularly where such projects are intended to provide essential social infrastructure and improve citizens’ welfare.
Other members of the team included Mrs. Anthonia Danjuma of the Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate; Mr. Into-Sam Audu of the Investigation Unit; Mr. Cyri Longpam of the Commission’s Secretariat; and Quantity Surveyor George Nwarie, FNIQS, representing the quantity surveying profession.
The inspection forms part of the FRC’s ongoing physical verification of selected Federal Government projects across the South-South geopolitical zone to assess implementation progress, value for money and compliance with approved standards and specifications.
