Plateau State Commissioner for Works, Hon Ubandoma Joshua Laven, PhD has described as “criminal” the manner in which the member representing Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency, Rt Hon Yusuf Adamu Gagdi “encroached” into the State Government Tiplik road project
In his first site inspection since his reassignment last week from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to the Ministry of Works by His Excellency, Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, Ubandoma accompanied by the Chairmen of Jos North, Jos South, Pankshin and Kanke, top ministry’s technocrats on Friday undertook an on the spot inspection of the Gungji, Shiwer, Dokpai to Tiplik Kanke Local Government Area.
The said road project has been an intense subject of debate in the media following claims by Hon Gagdi that he has completed the road. Gagdi made the claim while speaking on National TV. The lawmaker added that Federal Government projects in the state dwarf those of the state government
The Works Commissioner while interfacing with the residents, contractors and ministry’s technocrats on site was irked by the revelation that Hon Gagdi just encroached into an existing State government project without clearance and asphalted only 0.7km of the road which earthworks were already carried out by the state. Gagdi in series of videos excerpts from the national TV interview being circulated on the social media was alleged to have taken glory for “completing 33km road project”
Responding to the highly contestable video tagged “Compendium of Achievements”, Ubandoma said “On National TV and asphalted only 700m substandard, not up to a kilometer and on an existing contract. That is criminal”
The former Langtang North Local Government Chairman added fumed that “on existing contract by the state government, he went an asphalted 700m standard to the thickness of 2cm (50mm) instead of 6cm (150mm)”. “Federal Government is using 6cm as specification and you did only 2cm and you said you have done 33km road”, Ubandoma said while lamenting the quality of the 700m asphalt
“He encroached on our state government road. He will pay direly” the Commissioner threatened.
The commissioner while interrogating the community leaders on camera was told by the people that “as you can see, the road is still there. Dust is everywhere”
He dropped the cheering news that the governor, Barr Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang sent them to evaluate the project and mobilize contractor to site. He assured of Gov Mutfwang’s determination to transform the state’s roads and infrastructure networks