By Edet Okpo
Not very many people would be bold and genuinely willing to argue to the contrary that until the regime of the immediate past administration and that of Pastor Umo Eno on what could best be described as an hijacked or controlled scenario, indigenous construction companies, otherwise called “ local contractors “were grossly treated like mere lepers . That is with regards to intentionally or deliberately engaging them in the socio-economic, political and physical development of AKwa Ibom State.
Governor Umo Eno came with a demystifying mantra that breaks that hitherto 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 engagement of indigenous contractors, especially the leading indigenous contracting firm in the south south sub-region of Nigeria, Hensek Integrated Services Limited by Governor Umo Eno is perhaps an eloquent down- the- line incorporation of the Arise Agenda idealism to challenge and encourage Akwa Ibom people, except those with nothing significant at all to prove to the State.
It must quickly be admitted that the cumulative outcome of the Governor Umo Eno novelty in just a short experimental period has paid off with resounding testimonies.
Interactions with some of those who have been in government long before now revealed that previous administration’s schematic sidelining of indigenous contractors was for no plausible reasons than mere nomenclature, stereotype, misconception, speculative conclusions, leadership complex, personal choice and maybe 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 Umo became the fulfiller of those expectations by challenging local contractors with opportunities to make a bold statement.
Recent record of a major indigenous contracting firm, HENSEK Integrated Services Limited who has boldly stepped into the highly competitive arena has 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 mega 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.
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 mental 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 patronized by the the immediate past and present administrations have not played 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 supervising and routine inspection by Governor Umo Eno 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 Governor has made it an uncompromising policy to visit all ongoing road projects under his administration. Apart from this approach portraying his commitment to accountability, transparency and impact in governance, it is also geared towards ensuring that everything meets the required Standards 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 HENSEK Integrated Engineering Services Limited in the physical development of Akwa Ibom State has vindicated Governor Umo Eno celebrated discretion to give them a chance. In other words, by its expertise and integrity practically expressed in ability to handle challenging signature projects with international best standards, Hensek Integrated Engineering Services Limited has given the government of Akwa Ibom State 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 this world-class indigenous contractor in the state has become textbook case of its unbroken capacity and has received the nod of the governor and can also compete favourably with the best elsewhere in the world.
Ring road 3 project named after Late Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga and Late Dr. Clement Isong, Idom Emmanuel Boulevard, Professor Sampson Idiong Road by Atan Offot, Airport Road expansion Project, the ongoing Nsit Atai- Okobo Road dualization project amongst others excellently handled by Hensek Integrated Services Limited are top notch.
By aggregation, it is safe to say that over 70 percent of completed and on-going road projects in Umo Eno led government handled by Hensek Integrated Engineering Services Limited are in all fairness to operational indices and performance statistics not performed badly.
Because this indigenous contracting firm has 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 contracting firm such as HENSEK Integrated Engineering Services Limited in the physical development of the state to the unprecedented and appreciative extent he has, Gov. Umo Eno has clearly demonstrated the utility of his inspirational Arise Agenda as well as domesticated and dignified the concept of Local Content on the template of his administration.
“For generously involving indigenous contracting firm such as Hensek Integrated Engineering Services Limited in the physical development of the state to the unprecedented and appreciative extent he has, Gov. Umo Eno has clearly demonstrated the utility of his inspirational Arise Agenda as well as domesticated and dignified the concept of Local Content on the template of his administration.
Governor Umo Eno being who he is in matters of taste and preferences, the Hensek narrative has further proven that the company is patronized based on sentiments or closeness to the bedroom of power but by the conviction and belief of the Governor that , Yes, an Akwa Ibom person can do it and make a bold statement in a competitive global arena.
The Managing Director of Hensek Integrated Services Limited, Engr. Uwem Okoko therefore deserves commendation from progressive minded individuals for not betraying the trust and confidence of Akwa Ibom State Government but proving his mettle beyond every shadow of doubt.
Governor Umo Eno must be hugely appreciated for believing and investing in talent, capacity, competence, intelligence, truthfulness and professional competitiveness of a typical Akwa Ibom Person.
•••Edet Okpo, Media and Image Management Consultant, writes from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State- Nigeria.
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