Stimulating Local Economy Through Governor Udom Emmanuel's Inclusion Of Indigenous Contractors In Akwa Ibom Development

By Edet Okpo

Not many would be bold and willing to argue to the contrary that not until the eventual and eventful arrival of Governor Udom Emmanuel on what could best be described as a hijacked scene, indigenous construction firms, otherwise called “local contractors”, were treated like lepers by successive  administrations. That is with regards to deliberately involving them in the physical development of the State, to say the least. 

Governor Emmanuel came with a demystifying mantra that breaks that entrenched and segregationist tradition that had every profitable opportunity heaped on foreign construction companies, even with the obvious tendency for capital flight for the development of their parent countries. 

Amongst other objectives, it can be said that the adoption of this new model by Governor Udom  Emmanuel is perhaps an eloquent down-the-line incorporation of the Dakkada idealism to challenge and encourage Akwa Ibom people, except those with nothing at all to prove, to whom the clarion call to “rise to chart a new course” then should have more invigorating impact. 

It must quickly be admitted that the cumulative outcome of the Governor  Udom novelty in just a short experimental period has paid off with resounding testimonies. Interactions with some of those who were in government long before now have revealed the previous schematic sidelining of indigenous contractors was for no plausible reasons than mere nomenclature, stereotype, misconception, speculative conclusions, leadership complex and personal choice of the  leaders, and maybe a lack of self-assertion and demonstrable capacity by the ostracized contractors themselves who quietly accepted their assigned appellation, perhaps in the strong hope of possible change in government’s perception for them to prove their mettle. 

The facts on ground show that Governor Udom Emmanuel has become the fulfiller of those expectations by challenging local contractors with opportunities to make a statement.

 Recent record of indigenous contractors who have boldly stepped into the highly competitive arena have clearly indicated that government’s hitherto disregards of those years was rooted in contrived ignorance and prejudicial disposition against the strength and capacity of indigenous contractors. 

But who really are Indigenous or  Local Contractors? Indigenous contractors are of two categories: Those of Akwa Ibom State origin and those from other states of the federation, but who are also bonafide Nigerian citizens who may have projects they are handling or have handled in Akwa Ibom State. This is as opposed to companies like Julius Berger, CCECC, RCC, etc, owned by foreign nationals. This essay nevertheless is for contractors from Akwa Ibom State. 

The designation “local contractor” naturally comes with a stigmatized sense of inferiority. That is why analysis have suggested that such titling should be seen as mere reference to nationality and geographical location than a derogation in comparison to their foreign counterparts. Yet, it has always been the story of stigmatization and labeling that even induced to denigration and conscious disdain. 

The common excuses were that local contractors did not have the expertise, personnel, machinery, funds, quality perception, credibility, diplomacy, and deadline consciousness to handle real big jobs. Hence, according to some observers, contracts awarded then to local contractors were either to cronies or as conduit pipes for siphoning of funds by some profiteering elements in power. 

Accordingly, such jobs were scarcely supervised. The strongest proof to this position is seen in the fact that most, if not all, the roads built then by local contractors have all collapsed, giving further justification to government’s preference for foreign firms where and when it really mattered. 

Consequently, local contractors in those days were commonly given what would satirically be referred to as menIal or unchallenging jobs as consolation for their having been sidelined in favour of government’s traditional preferences. Worse still, the insignificant few who were given the dregs may have had problems with living up to expectation or became victims of embezzlement of contract funds. 

But this ugly commentary has changed completely in the current dispensation because contractors appointed by the Udom administration have not had the fortune to play hanky-panky with projects that have ratified specifications and definite deadlines. Even where such would have been feasible in a worst-case-scenario, the close supervision  and routine inspection by Prof. Eno Ibanga, 

would simply have circumvented every of such possibility. That is to say tangentially that to those who have not demonstrated satisfactory independent capacity in quality delivery, the State Government has had to enforce immediate compliance or revoked such contracts.

The Commissioner for Works and Fire Service  has made it an uncompromising policy to visit all ongoing road projects under his purview at least once a  week. Apart from this approach portraying his commitment in ensuring that everything meets the expectation of the Governor and also instills  in the contractors both the fear and necessity to operate by the rules  for mutual benefits. 

By and large, it can be said that the excellent performance of local contractors in the physical development of Akwa Ibom State has vindicated Governor Udom Emmanuel’s celebrated discretion to give them a chance. In other words, by their expertise and integrity practically expressed in their ability to handle challenging signature projects with international best standards, local contractors in Akwa Ibom State have given the government sufficient confidence to partner with them for the greater task ahead. 

Conversely because something has to happen for something to happen in the proposition of the law of relativism, high profile and gigantic projects already delivered or currently being handled by indigenous contractors in the state have become a textbook case of their capacity, all of which have received the nod of the governor and can compete favourably with the best elsewhere in the world. 

Therefore, the common place questions – “Can they do it? Do they have the expertise, capacity, the personnel and financial muscle to do it?” must have been answered or are progressively being answered. Some of such dependable indigenous companies whose jobs have erased the stigma erroneously pinned on them are Seyang Limited, Hensek Integrated Services Limited, Benest  Technical Services, Nsik Construction Ltd etc, each of whom has handled at least 4 projects in the advancement of this disquisition. Of special reference, amongst the numerous, are the intra-campus road network of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic and  Nto Edino Road, with a bridge, upon which Seyang Limited has proudly stamped his proprietary competence. 

The newly commissioned Ring road 3 named after Late Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga and Late Dr. Clement Isong excellently handled by Hensek Integrated Services Limited.( The Julius Berger of Akwa Ibom State) 

By aggregation, it is safe to say that over 70  percent of completed and on-going road projects in the Udom administration is handled by local contractors who in all fairness to operational indices and performance statistics have not performed badly. Because they have been able to handle to completion and on schedule so many big projects that were once the exclusive reserve of foreign expatriates, their show of class cannot therefore be seen as a flash in the pan or a transient, spasmodic success as if the ultimate motive was to woo and win government’s attention. This therefore should give government more rationale and confidence for extended patronage and accentuation of the peculiar policy of inclusiveness.

 

For generously involving indigenous contractors in the physical development of the state to the unprecedented and appreciative extent he has, Gov. Udom Emmanuel has clearly demonstrated the utility of his inspirational Dakkada philosophy as well as domesticated and dignified the concept of Local Content on the template of his administration. It makes a world of sense to see local contractors as simultaneously busy as they are presently on road projects.