Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has ordered contractors handling Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Anyigba road and the Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe dual carriageway back to site.
Umahi read the riot act to the contractors handling the federal road projects in Kogi state when he met with representatives of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) Nigeria Ltd and TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Ltd at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday,
Both projects were awarded in 2022 and scheduled for completion in 2024.
Umahi expressed displeasure that the projects, expected to be completed in 2024, have achieved less than two percent progress. CCECC Nigeria Ltd, contractor for the 52.27km Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe road, has delivered only 1.97% of work despite receiving ₦2.5 billion upfront. TEC Engineering Company Ltd, handling the Lokoja–Anyigba road, has recorded just 1.04% completion after collecting ₦1 billion.
A statement issued by Barrister Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister on Thursday night quoted him as saying that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration is committed to a “road infrastructure revolution” built on quality, speed and value for money.
The minister frowned at the delay of the contractors in achieving the key deliverables of the projects within the timelines and financial resources made available by the federal government.
He, therefore, directed the Director of Highway North Central to issue a warning letter to the contractor, to within 30 days, resume work on the site (using the old rate) to achieve a milestone that is commensurate with the money they received.
According to him, the balance of the job yet to be done would be mutually terminated to enable the Ministry to procure the remaining section of the project for enhanced funding and execution.
On the contract for the rehabilitation of Lokoja- Shintaku – Dekina – Anyigba road with a spur from Dekina to Ugbabo in Kogi State, handled by TEC Engineering Company Nig Ltd, the minister noted that the contract was awarded in 2022 but recorded only 1.04% completion despite receiving ₦1bn as an advance payment.
He directed that the contractor should lay 3km of asphalt by December 2025, after which a final account would be made based on the milestones completed, and the job would be terminated on a mutual basis.
The minister was further directed that the assessment for the funds already released shall be based on the old rate while the assessment for the funds to be accessed under the year 2025 budget shall be based on the new rate.
Umahi also directed that the consultancies for both contracts be mutually terminated pending the procurement of a new contract for the projects.
