The Federal Government has emphasised its resolve to terminate contracts that fail to meet stipulated obligations, underscoring the importance of adhering to project timelines.
This warning comes in response to undue delays by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc (JBN), Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), Arab Contractors Nigeria Ltd, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Setraco Nigeria Ltd and Rock Result Nigeria Ltd on several ongoing road projects in the South East and South-South geopolitical zones, as discovered by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during his project inspections.
The minister also addressed misconceptions about the alleged abandonment of four legacy roads by the federal government, clarifying the administration’s expectation to commission at least four road projects between February and May this year.
Highlighting delays in some ongoing projects, the Minister warned of decisive action, saying, “The Ministry will not tolerate delays.
“Any contractor who does not meet his contractual obligations will face consequences, cumulating into a 14-day Notice of Termination of Contract.
“Despite the challenges, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu remains fully committed to the completion of inherited projects as well as the four Legacy Projects he initiated.
“The President has not abandoned these projects. It is the contractors, who have delayed the work. This year, we will be stricter in ensuring that projects are completed on course”.
According to a statement by the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, on Thursday, the minister, however, guaranteed that the Ministry will continue to closely monitor all ongoing projects, ensuring that they align with President Tinubu’s vision for accelerated national growth and development.
Furthermore, the Minister instructed Federal Controllers of Works to present at least four completed projects each for commissioning between February and May 20 this year, adding that, “The expectation is that every Controller delivers on his mandates, according to specifications and time allotted. There is no room for further delays”.
While calling for greater teamwork from all stakeholders in the management and delivery of road and bridge projects, Umahi said, “We all need to work together – government, contractors, and the general public towards ensuring that deadlines are met.
“No contractor should collect government funds and fail to deliver on their promises. Henceforth, we will be more observant and take necessary actions towards ensuring the successful completion of these projects”.
At Section III (Umuahia-Aba) of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, where the inspection began on Tuesday, though the Minister applauded Arab Contractors Nig Ltd. on the quality of work, he nonetheless instructed them to deploy in two more sites to speed up the construction and, most importantly, meet the set dateline.
While on Section IV (Aba-Port Harcourt) of the same alignment handled by CCECC, Umahi expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work, noting that they have only been able to access N7b out of the N21b provided for the project, last year.
Consequently, he instructed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State to issue a warning to the contractor, promising to terminate it, if there are no improvements in the tempo of work.
The Minister inspected the Bodo-Bonny Road project, a vital part of the South-South zone’s infrastructure development featuring a two-lane road with hard shoulders, 17 bridges spanning 3,200 meters, and reinforced concrete pavement on Bonny Island.
Expressing dissatisfaction with the progress, the Minister urged JBN to intensify their deployment of personnel, materials, and equipment, even as they had worked through the Yuletide period.
During his visit on Wednesday to Section III (Eleme Junction-Onne Junction) of the East-West Road project, the Minister directed RCC to allocate more resources to accelerate the pace of work or risk re-scoping and re-award of the contract while reminding the contractor of the April 2025 deadline to deliver a section of the dual carriageway.
At the multiple box culverts on the East-West Road handled by Rock Result Nig. Ltd, the Minister commended the work’s standard but criticized its slow progress.
Noting that the contract, initially scheduled for completion in November 2024 and extended to December, remains unfinished, he set a final deadline of January 2025, warning that failure to meet it would result in revocation.
Umahi, impressed with the quality of work on Section II-II (Ahoada-Kaiama) by Setraco Nig. Ltd, directed the contractor to expedite progress by deploying additional resources.
He emphasised the April 2025 delivery date as non-negotiable and instructed the use of continuously reinforced concrete pavement (CRCP) for the 2.3-kilometer flood-affected area where box culverts are being constructed.
Umahi emphasized the administration’s prioritization of roads and bridges under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Infrastructure Revolution, urging contractors to improve their performance or risk exclusion
Setraco’s Project Manager, Isaa Michel, thanked the Minister for the inspection and feedback, vowing to accelerate the work to meet the deadline.
