Alia Warns PHC Contractors Against Further Delays, Sets October 31 Deadline

Alia Warns PHC Contractors Against Further Delays, Sets October 31 Deadline

By Ade Ade

Governor Hyacinth Alia of Benue State has issued a stern warning to contractors handling the renovation and upgrading of 98 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state, insisting that any further delay in project delivery will not be tolerated.

Speaking at a high-level meeting with contractors and consultants supervising the World Bank-assisted IMPACT project, held in Makurdi, the Governor—represented by his Deputy, Dr. Sam Ode—expressed deep displeasure over the slow pace of work.

According to a statement by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor, Ikyereve Ior, Governor Alia directed that all projects must be completed and ready for handover by October 31, stressing that the state government would no longer entertain excuses.

“Our primary goal is to ensure that by October 31, all these facilities should be ready for handover. We are not there yet, and I expect urgent action,” he declared.

Governor Alia reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery through improved infrastructure, emphasizing that funds allocated for the projects must be used judiciously for the benefit of the people of Benue State.

“There are no excuses. You must deliver these projects on time,” he warned.

To ensure compliance, the Governor announced the constitution of a five-man task force that will monitor daily progress on the projects and submit regular reports over the next two weeks. The team, he said, will track each contractor’s level of performance and enforce adherence to the set deadline.

Earlier, the IMPACT Project Manager, Dr. Ene Ochai, briefed the meeting on the current status of the renovation works, outlining the completion percentages of various sites and detailing funds disbursed based on work executed.

In their response, the contractors pledged to accelerate the pace of work and meet the stipulated deadline.

The renovation and upgrading of the 98 PHCs commenced in February 2025 with an initial completion period of 14 weeks. However, with the new deadline set for the end of October, attention is now focused on the contractors to deliver as promised and ensure the facilities become operational for communities across the state.