NWR Rated 3rd In PIP Realization, MINMAP Bent On Scoring 100 percent By December

By Ignatius Nji

Ediage Herbert Apande MINMAP Regional Delegate

By October rating North West Region has been classified 3^rd in the 2014 public investment Projects PIP execution. This revelation was made public during a regional Public Contracts MINMAP coordination meeting that took place in Ndop on October 30^th presided over by the SDO for Ngoketunjia. The Regional Delegate for Public Contracts Mr. Ediage Herbert Apande says with this rating he shall make sure that by close of this fiscal year North West region would have recorded 100 percent realization given that all projects have been engaged and work is already on course.

A total of 277 projects were allocated for the North West and two of them were reportedly deviated to other Region. 275 projects are expected to be realized at the end of December and so far at the level of the Regional Delegation of Public Contracts 261 projects have been launched and awarded, 170 of the 261 projects have been completed and handed over. This gives a record score of the projects executed to 62.9 percent given that no project is at zero percent. The Regional Delegate also made it clear that any project still on course had to do with seasonal lapses give the heavy rains posing as deterrent to the smooth take off especially road projects.

Talking on problems encountered, it was observed that some projects are not properly studied making it difficult for the contractors to execute the projects. The new electricity production and distribution company ENEO has come with new roles to be the sole supplier of electric poles. This is a new concept which many contractors complain that it slows down execution given the high demand which the company is unable to meet up. The coordination also examined and evaluated the consequences of the lowest bidder concept though is internationally accepted as standard, poses a problem in the field where contractors have to be pressured to do their job given that they find it difficult to adequately deliver the projects on time for want of profit margin. According to Ediage Herbert Apande, time for little miscomprehension and small wranglings is over as each stakeholder now knows understands the role of MINMAP. He says it is time for all hands to be on deck to see that execution of PIP in the North West hits 100 percent at the end of this year in terms of quality and quantity. This shall be ensured by a college of control engineers, 47 in number who are doing a commendable job.

In appreciation of the coordination meeting which is first of its kind, the SDO for Ngoketunjia Mr. Kuela Norbert Valerie says the choice of Ngoketunjia for this meeting was laudable. This meeting he says essential given that itis a stock taking meeting under the Ministry of Public Contracts in order to evaluate distance covered and to make better the way forward. He lauded the stakeholders for deliberating on the lowest bidder syndrome and hoped that hierarchy would consider the resolutions taken so far.