Gov. Ayade sacks refuse collection contractors in Cross River

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Monday directed the Calabar Urban Development Authority to take charge of evacuation of refuse in the city.
Ayade gave the directive in Calabar after announcing the termination of contracts of the firms, Patson Nigeria and Paclison Nigeria, handling the evacuation project.
The governor, who was on an unscheduled inspection tour of refuse evacuation points in parts of the city, expressed disappointment at the level of work done by the contractors.
He said government would no longer tolerate the inadequacies of the contractors, saying that its agencies would be saddled with the responsibility of the evacuation.
He said: “Some months ago, I saw this situation and I am here again only to find out that the condition has not changed.
“It is an indication that they have done nothing over the situation.
“It is obvious that there is too much politics in government.
“This is not something we should do politics with.
“We must remain committed to the realisation of our vision of growing a clean and green state.
“As you can see, some of the dump sites are close to markets and this is totally unacceptable.
“This is the easiest way through which we can have diseases transmitted to residents that we strive to protect always.
“This is totally unacceptable.
“I have tolerated this for four months now, but I cannot take it anymore.”
Ayade stressed the need to restore the glory of the city and give it the befitting right of place.
The governor had earlier given the contractors three months ultimatum on assumption of office in May to improve on the sanitary condition of the metropolis.
According to him, this is with the view to restoring its rightful status as the cleanest and greenest state in the country.
He also directed the Secretary to the State Government to meet with the affected contractors to discharge government’s obligations to them.
Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria, the manager of one of the contracting firms, Patson Nigeria, Patrick Odok, said the state government owed the firm six months.
Odok said: “We have not been paid in the last six months and without money, you cannot do anything.
“You have to pay your workers, service the trucks and others and you cannot do all these without money.
NAN.