Davv Notch‘ll deliver in 48 months — Hon Ochei
By Emma Amaize, Regional Editor, South-South
Are you a lawmaker or contractor because you are involved in contract awards?
I can boldly say that the Constitution of the country empowers me to do business because the job of a legislator is part_time. What do you want me to do with the rest of my time, play around? I am a businessman. I have something doing before I became a legislator. Are you saying I should throw away the engineering I learnt before I became a legislator because I am a lawmaker to the dust?
It’s said you got 50 per cent of the money for the Oghara IPP project, with nothing on ground.
(Laughs) I must say it’s laughable because building a power plant is what we call and EPC project, that is engineering, procurement and construction. Anywhere in the world, the first you do is not to go and start digging the soil. It is the engineering.
The engineering takes 60 per cent of the building of the plant. You have another 25 per cent that goes into procurement and the least of all, I am talking about 15 per cent is the construction. But what do you want to construct when you don’t have a design because every detail must be taken into cognizance? It’s not a thing you do in a haste because it’s plant that must be in operation for years and run without hindrance.
Therefore, every little detail must be specified to the letter and then, you go through a lot of tests before you can commission the digging of the ground. Maybe some people imagine that power plant is like a generator and so they think it’s just going to the market to purchase one. The minimum it will take to manufacture one turbine for you is 18 months. So, when was the contract awarded, only June, last year and when did we place our orders for the power plant. And so, it is laughable when I read some of these things, it only shows how bereft those make such allegations are.
Secondly when you say I have been paid 50 per cent, I don’t like commenting on such comments because it is open to the public. The Ministry of Finance runs a transparent operation, you can go and find out what the terms of the contract are? What I am supposed to be paid and if I have been paid up to what I am supposed to be paid? If the work done is commensurate with what I have done before you start complaining.
I think the biggest problem we have in this country is that people just want to talk, they are envious and there is petty jealousy. Julius Berger, for goodness sake, is doing all the road projects and bridges in Abuja , who is asking them question. Their projects are even 10 times what the ordinary cost should be. But nobody bothers and this is not even a case where the project cost is inflated by any standard.
Go and find out what the cost of producing one megawatt of power is and cross check it with the cost of what the state government has awarded the contract for and then you understand the prudence that was applied in awarding the contract.
What exactly are you supposed to do in this contract?
The contract is the building, purchase of two numbers Rolls Royce gas turbine generator and installing them. That is phase one of the power plant. Of course, you can’t just purchase and install without following the due process of engineering, procurement and construction.
What is the status of the project at the moment?
The engineering aspect is nearing completion as this time you are speaking to me. That is the first thing.
Why is news everywhere that you have collected money and gone into your cocoon?
Well, I don’t know but if they want to know, like you have come to ask me, I will tell them that it is not a project that is done the way some people are putting it. You remember the federal power project, they kept on accusing the contractors that they have taken the money but these things don’t work like that.
You must understand how it works, it is not going to buy and put something into the ground. The Federal Ministry of Power is there; you can go and ask them how these things are done.
You are saying it’s not true the governor has shared the money for this project with you?
(Long laughter), I wonder why the governor will award contract and shares the money with me. To whose benefit, his benefit or mine or to Deltans? It’s not possible. If he shares the money with me, it means the project will never see the light of day. I want Deltans to watch and see within the expected completion time of the project if it will not be completed.
The project has barely started and people are complaining, this is a terrible situation. Is it that these people don’t want the project paid for? If they don’t want it paid for, let them say so. But I think they should go and read the contract and that will go a long way in putting to rest this agitation.
When is the completion period?
We have 48 months.
Dav Notch also handled the Asaba Street light project. It is running on diesel. Solar street light would have been cost saving to the state.
Who are the people saying so? Deltans or Nigerians? (laughs). Well, you cannot blame a man who has a thought pattern, probably, that is the way he understands it and he is entitled to his opinion.
Now, do you have power in this country? The answer is no. My next question is, do you want to have street light, furniture and fittings around the place that don’t light?
