STATUS REPORT BY OMEGA RESOURCES LIMITED (MAIN CONTRACTOR)
1.0 CONTRACT AWARD
The contract award for the construction of 18-block classroom was awarded to Omega Resources Limited sometime in August 2013. However, advance payment of the 40% of contract sum was not made until 3rd of February 2014.
The Special Committee for the Rehabilitation of Public School (SCRPS) is the special Lagos State Government organ under the Ministry of Education to supervise the construction works. Their role is defined as follows:
(a) Monitor construction works to ensure it is of prescribed standards as specified – the drawings provided.
(b) Approve changes in design as necessary.
(c) Approve variation where necessary.
(d) To advise the State Government on mile stone payments as they are due.
Kingsworld Standard Ltd is the only nominated subcontractor working with Omega Resources Ltd to deliver a fully constructed 18 block classroom
2.0 SITE MASTER PLAN DEVELOPMENT
In order to locate the exact positioning of the proposed 18 block classroom in the 4 hectare land, SCRPS mandated EKOBA to determine and revert back for their approval.
Consequently, the EKOBA EXCO AND the newly inaugurated EKOBA PROJECT MONITORING TEAM met with representatives of the contractor to develop the site master plan (which was already in existence as draft).
The joint team brain stormed on three occasions and subsequently agreed on the rearrangement of buildings and other infrastructures. The 18-block classroom, being donated by LASG was thus located as shown in the attached master plan.
The approved master plan was submitted to SCRPS who consented accordingly.
Thus, the stage was set for site entry and preparation.
3.0 BUSH CLEARING & SITE PREPARATION
To facilitate entry, the joint team of 2 members of EKOBA project monitoring team (Ekorians Aderibigbe + …..) and contractor representatives visited the site. The site then was covered with thick vegetation such that no beacon could be sited to confirm the actual boundaries of the school land. Bush clearing thus commenced after which only three beacons out of eight (8) were sighted without sighting the other % beacons, it was impossible to locate the position of the 18 block classroom.
The contractor thus has to pay for the services of the Surveyor General’s office to re-establish the remaining beacons. This was successfully done after a 2 week exercise. Thereafter the stretch of area where the building will be located was determined and marked out for bush clearing.
Bush Clearing
This was done in two days:
(1) Manual clearing of surface vegetation and subsequent burning of the cleared bush.
(2) Removal of surface sub soil to completely remove all roots and all undergrowths by use of D 8 bulldozer. This process took another week to complete.
4.0 SITE MOBILISATION
After the site has been fully prepared, the following site mobilization activities took place.
(a) Creation of access road to move in materials, equipment and labour as the interior of the site has no access except by foot.
(b) Construction of storage shed, office and accommodation for site security man.
(c) Construction of borehole, water treatment and storage facility.
(d) We had discussions with the chiefs in the area on the supply of sand and granite for the works. This was to ensure that no community disruption occurs for the whole duration of the contract.
5.0 TESTS
The following tests were conducted in the course of mobilization exercise:
(i) Soil Tests: As this is mandatory, Lagos State Tests Laboratory was invited to conduct the soil test at four spots along the exact area for the construction of the building. The tests were duly conducted and the results were provided in a detailed report submitted to SCPRS. The results show that the soil is adequate for the raft foundation which the building was designed for.
(ii) Water Tests: The samples of water from the borehole and storage facility were taken to Lagos State Testing Laboratory. Results show that water contains very low amount of iron and is not salty. Thus the water was okayed for construction work.
(iii) Reinforcement: Samples of 10mm/12mm/16mm to be used in concrete works were also taken to the Lagos State Testing Laboratory for tests on tensile strength. Results show that all reinforcement passed the test.
(iv) Cement: Only Elephant and Dangote Cement were used for construction work on site. Based on SON certificate, the two types were deemed adequate for the construction work.
6.0 SUBSTRUCTURE
The substructure works are as follows:
(a) Set Out: The set out of the building was done and approved by SCRPS technical team before excavation was allowed to commence.
(b) Excavation for Foundation
After set up, excavation commenced but had to be suspended as depth of excavation has to be recalculated by the joint team of contractor and SCRPS team in view of the poor drainage of the entire Abijo GRA. Thus survey of drains and their depth were made and after an extensive discussion, it was decided that the foundation began be increased by 300mm from the design to take care of future sand filling of the site. This increase was noted as a variation to the SCRPS. Thereafter the excavation recommenced.
(c) Blinding : This was done as per designed
(d) Ground Beam: The ground beam was prepared and casted in two halves as per design. To obtain proper finished form work used was marine plywood. SCRPS team checked the formwork and reinforcement deployed and also supervised the concrete casting process.
(e) Filling of foundation: The ground beam internals were filled with special filling sand and compacted for a period of one week. With the approval of SCRPS team, the blinding reinforcement and casting of foundation (ground floor) slab was achieved.
7.0 SUPER STRUCTURE
The following elements of the Super Structure were achieved so far:
(a) Ground floor columns
(b) 1st floor slab
(c) 1st floor columns
(d) 2nd floor slab
(e) 2nd floor columns
(f) Roof beams
(g) Lintel for ground floor
(h) Staircases
(i) Roof water tank slab
(j) All electrical conduiting pipes
At every stage of each of the work, approval to cast was given by SCRPS team after physical verification of all dimensions and all other relevant details. Furthermore casting was done under the full monitoring. The 28days mandatory curing period for concrete was observed on all slabs.
8.0 BLOCK WORK
All the blocks used for the internal block work so far are custom made on the site. The block molding shed and equipment are located on site. This is to ensure that the blocks for this construction work will be of the highest standard possible. We note that a very high percentage of stone dust was used in the molding of the blocks. The blocks were also allowed to strengthen for a period not less than 21days before use.
Presently, all block work required for the initial phase of the construction has been completed. All the block work have been inspected by SCRPS team and confirmed to meet design specification.
9.0 ROOFING
The roofing of the entire block has also been completed satisfactorily. In addition, the ceiling noggins have also been completed.
The roof trusses are made of tough mahogany wood fully treated with anti termite wood protection solutions. The roofing sheets are long span aluminum with blue finish as per design specifications.
10.0 SUMMARY
The construction works so far achieved is in line with contractual agreement with the LASG. The contract specifies that the above listed construction deliverables must be achieved in order to qualify for the next tranche of payment. The contractor has reached the above milestones since May 2015.
Accordingly, SCRPS has approved work done to qualify for next tranche of payment. Also, the budget office has approved for payment after its team paid an assessment visit to site recently. It is expected that as soon as the next tranche of payment is made, the following works will be pursued:
(i) PLASTERING
(ii) PLUMBING + WATER SUPPLY
(iii) WINDOW DOOR, & IRON WORKS
(iv) ELECTRICALS
(v) PAINTING
(vi) LANDSCRAPING
(vii) FINISHING
CONSTRAINT
During the course of construction works, we encountered serious access problems on site as torrential rain flooded the site such that for four months, no construction work could be done. When work eventually commenced, materials ran out as no material could reach even a kilometer to the site. In order to move the work, we have to trans load cement, sand, granite and reinforcement thrice before they can reach the site. Even during casting mixing of concrete could only be done only at about 100mtrs to the construction site. Thus over N8million naira was spent just to battle the effect of the flooding. The SCRPS team also visited to assess the flooding and only recommended that we manage the situation.
This act of God caused a long delay in the execution of the works. We are recommending to EKOBA to initiate plans to sand fill the whole site so that the effect of heavy rains will not destroy the site.
OMEGA RESOURCES LIMITED.
