February 03, (THEWILL) – Benue state Governor Samuel Ortom has carried out inspection of the N6 billion Benue Geographical Information System (BENGIS) project. He later fielded questions from newsmen. Kajo martins was there.
Sir, can you give your impression about the ongoing BENGIS project awarded by your government?
Well, from Makurdi airport to the permanent site of the Ministry for Land, Survey and Solid Minerals, what you saw me and top government officials doing was inspecting the process of air survey of the entire Benue state; targeting all the local government headquarters and some mini Urban areas to be captured in the digital system. The intention is to fast track it and qualify for World Bank facility which is estimated at 5 million dollars. My government has so far paid over N3 billion of the amount requirement of N6 billion. We are hoping that by April or before this year’s democracy day, this project should be ready for commissioning because the benefit of having five million dollars grant is not a small gesture. For me, any thing that is to add more to what we have is appreciated. The second thing is that, when this project is completed, we would have succeeded in computerizing the entire land mass space and administration where one will seat in office and be able to do his job, more so that cases of duplication of Certificate of Occupancy will be eliminated completely among other advantages that will come on board. Above all, revenue generation will become easier for the state and we will be making billions of naira on a yearly basis.
What is your take on the quality of work done so far by the contractor?
So far, the quality of work done by the contractor is satisfactory and if the government have fulfill its own obligations by funding it, I’m sure by now, the work would have been at a roofing stage. That notwithstanding, while we are still working with Access Bank PLC, our sponsors to obtain N500 million for the contractor to continue work so as to achieve our target.
There are plans to reflect same project in three local government headquarters like Gboko, Adikpo and Oturkpo. Is it same N6 billion for such projects?
Well, the branches of BENGIS project to be constructed in the three local government areas will not be as big as this one at the state headquarters in Makurdi and so, it won’t consume too much money in erecting or completing and equipping them.
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