By CHRIS OCHAYI
ABUJA—Federal Government has terminated the contracts for the construction of Lots 1-3 of the Skill Acquisition Centre projects at Iguelaba, Edo State, following inability of the contractors to make  progress in execution of the projects.

The affected contractors include M/S Chemtronics Nig. Ltd., handling Lot 1, M/S Jogan Ltd. Lot 2 and M/S Lonben International Ltd, who was until yesterday handling the Lot 3. The projects were awarded for  N2.8 billion.

The decision to revoke the contracts was taken after a meeting between Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe and the contractors, in Abuja.

The minister, during his  tour of the sites, had summoned the contractors to Abuja to discuss the state of the projects.

Announcing the termination of the contract via a statement, Chief Press Secretary, in the ministry, Mr. Fidelis Osammor, said final warning  letters had also been issued to the contractors handling Lots 1 & 3 of the Skills Acquisition Centre project at Tuomo in Delta State.

The statement read:   “on Monday, November 21, 2011, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Peter Orubebe and Minister of State, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, and the Ministry’s top Management undertook a follow-up visit to the Skills Acquisition Centre Projects at Iguelaba, Edo State and Tuomo, Delta State to confirm the responses of the contractors to the earlier ultimatum that they should improve on their performances or have their contracts terminated.

“During the visit, the Team undertook a careful evaluation of the performances of the contractors and observed among others that the execution of the projects had fallen behind schedule.

“Following the inspection visit, the Honourable Minister held a crucial meeting with the Ministry’s top management on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2011 to discuss the way forward with respect to the execution of the Skills Acquisition Centre projects.

“It was resolved that the contracts of M/S Chemtronics Nig. Ltd., (Lot 1), M/S Jogan Ltd. (Lot 2) and M/S Lonben International Ltd (Lot 3) handling the construction of the Skills Acquisition Centre project at Iguelaba, Edo State be terminated with effect from 23rd November 2011; and

The meeting also resolved “that letters of final warning be issued to the contractors handling Lots 1 & 3 of the Skills Acquisition Centre project at Tuomo, Delta State, namely, M/S Le’ Clarence Nigeria Limited (Lot 1) and M/S Tier-one Nig. Ltd. (Lot 3) to improve their performances in the execution of the project by December 31st, 2011 or have their contracts terminated.”