Hon Hamisu Muazu Shira.
By Our Reporter
The Bauchi state government has debunked allegation of sidelining indigenous suppliers and contractors in its ongoing construction of 2500 housing project.
This much was disclosed by the Commissioner for Housing and Environment, Hon. Hamisu Muazu Shira.
He denied the allegations while speaking with journalists at Government House Bauchi after an emergency meeting with the contractors.
The Commissioner said Alind Nigeria Limited and other local suppliers have already made supply of the materials needed now for the project to contractors handling the housing project.
“The truth of the matter is that no any supplier was sidelined in our housing project, we have earlier promised to patronize materials of our indigenous contractors in the execution of the project.”
“After we received complaints on the non patronize of the materials of our local suppliers, I called a meeting with the contractors and we discussed extensively, but they told us that for now, they can’t buy the materials they don’t require at this stage.
“With this, I want to appeal to our indigenous contractors and suppliers to bear and be patience with us, I want to assure them that we will buy their materials as part of our strategy of patronizing local materials.”
He said with the successes recorded by the state government in the execution of the project, the federal government says it will not hesitate in supporting the completion of the housing scheme.
“We are being commended by the Federal Government, as Bauchi is the leading state in all the states of the North East where the project is ongoing. In appreciation to the level of our work, the Family Homes is now willing to release the remaining 6 billion naira for the completion of project.
“We are willing to patronize local contractors, we have that intention so as far as we are concerned, our contractors handling the project are doing what they were told to do and that is to patronize local contractors who have qualitative service to offer.”
Hon. Shira commended Governor Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed for insisting on the use of qualitative materials for the execution of the project.
