CHAIRMAN, House of Representatives committee on Power and Steel, Hon. Ndudi Elumelu yesterday condemned the level of work on Bayelsa State Independent Power Project (IPP).

He said the extent of work done by the contractor, Rockson Engineering Company is not commensurate with the initial payment of $68 million.

Elumelu who led 19 other members of the committee to the project site in Gbarian-Ubie community, Yenagoa local government area decried the level of work done describing it as appalling.

The contract was awarded to Rockson Engineering Company by President Olusegun Obasanjo at a cost of $86million. The Managing Director of the firm is Mr. Arumeme Johnson, an engineer.

Hon. Elumelu said the contractor handling the project had no justification not to have completed the job, saying the explanation that issues of unemployment, restiveness, the absence of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and lack of funds were flimsy excuses.

He also blamed the firm for tactically delaying the installation of the procured equipment for the project; just as the committee also frowned that over $46million had been expended on the project without any tangible work done; especially as the imported equipment were lying waste on the ground.

His words "We have been to the site and we have been able to see the level of work being carried out by the contractors handling the various project, the amount budgeted and the amount so far released.

"The level of work carried out is not commensurate with the amount released to the contractors handling the project."

Speaking through, Mr. Preye Erewari, the host community, pointed out that Environmental Assessment Impact (EAI) was not carried out prior to the commencement of the project while the contractor failed to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the host community.

Speaking earlier during a call on him, the Bayelsa State Governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Bolere Ketebu-Nwoakeafor said the members of the House Committee had given Nigerians hope through the on-going probe of the power sector.

He advised the committee to ensure that live transmission of the probe is translated into three main languages in the country to ensure that all Nigerians, including market women follow the investigations.