Minister threatens to terminate street building contract over delay

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has warned the contractor of the East-West Highway, Part III (Eleme Junction – Onne Junction), Messrs Reynolds Building Firm, to deploy extra assets to hasten the tempo of labor or face re-scoping or termination of the contract.

Whereas expressing satisfaction with the standard of labor accomplished, the Minister reminded the contractor that it has as much as the tip of April 2025 to ship a bit of the carriageway.

He handed down the warning on Wednesday whereas inspecting the progress of labor on the challenge.

A press release by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, on Thursday mentioned Umahi started an inspection on ongoing street tasks within the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones, beginning with Part III of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway (Umuahia – Aba).

“The ministry is not going to tolerate delays. Any contractor who doesn’t meet his contractual obligations will face penalties, cumulating right into a 14-day Discover of Termination of Contract,” he warned.

The minister additionally expressed displeasure over the sluggish tempo of labor on Part IV (Aba – Port Harcourt) of the identical alignment being dealt with by Messrs China Civil Engineering Building Firm.

Based on him, solely N7bn out of the N21bn offered for the challenge, final yr has been accessed.

Consequently, he instructed the Federal Controller of Works, Rivers State, to concern a warning to the contractor, promising to terminate it if there have been no enhancements within the tempo of labor.

He applauded the contractor, Messrs Arab Contractors (Nig.) Ltd. on the standard of labor however instructed them to deploy in two extra websites to hurry up the development and, most significantly, meet the set dateline.

The tour of responsibility, the assertion mentioned, additionally took the minister to the Bodo-Bonny Highway, the place he, once more, voiced discontent with the extent of labor achieved.

He prodded the contractor, Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc to upscale their deployment of males, supplies and machines, regardless of working all through the Yuletide holidays.

The challenge, a crucial element of the South-South zone’s infrastructure growth, is a 2-lane street with exhausting shoulders, 17 bridges spanning 3,200 meters and strengthened concrete pavement on Bonny Island.

The assertion added, “In any respect building websites visited, Umahi confused the urgency to satisfy deadlines, emphasising that every one federal contractors should intensify their efforts to make sure the well timed realisation of tasks, in step with the Federal Authorities’s resolve to boost infrastructure and transportation as enablers of development, succinctly captured within the Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The essence is to enhance connectivity, in addition to stimulate socio-economic development.”

The minister additional issued clear directives to federal controllers of works to current at the least 4 accomplished tasks, every, for commissioning from February to twentieth Could, this yr.

“The expectation is that each controller delivers on his mandates, based on specs and time allotted. There isn’t any room for additional delays,” he declared.

In gentle of the delay within the supply of some tasks, the minister cautioned that the Ministry is poised to take decisive motion.

Based on him, such actions would apply to all underperforming contracts.

Regardless of the challenges, he reassured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu stays totally dedicated to the completion of inherited tasks, in addition to the 4 legacy tasks he initiated.

“The President has not deserted these tasks. It’s the contractors, who’ve delayed the work. This yr, we can be stricter in making certain that tasks are accomplished on target,” he assured.

Umahi mentioned the ministry will proceed to carefully monitor all ongoing tasks, making certain that they align with President Tinubu’s imaginative and prescient for accelerated nationwide development and growth.

He concluded by calling for higher teamwork from all stakeholders within the administration and supply of street and bridge tasks.

“All of us have to work collectively – authorities, contractors and most of the people in direction of making certain that deadlines are met. No contractor ought to accumulate authorities funds and fail to ship on their guarantees. Henceforth, we can be extra observant and take vital actions in direction of making certain the profitable completion of those tasks,” he acknowledged.

Final yr, the minister terminated 10 stalled tasks, which had lasted over 17 years.