Umahi inspects sections of East-West road, Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway, Bodo-Bonny roads

By Jabiru Hassan, Kano.

The Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, FNSE, FNATE, while expressing satisfaction with the quality of work on the East-West Road, Section III (Eleme Junction – Onne Junction), has directed the Contractor, Messrs Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) to deploy more resources to hasten the pace of work or face re-scoping and re-award of the contract. 

The Minister gave the warning yesterday, Wednesday, 8th January 2025, while inspecting the progress of work on the project. He reminded the contractor that he has up to the end of April 2025 to deliver a section of the carriageway.  

Engr. Umahi began the inspection of ongoing road projects in the South East and South South geopolitical zones on Tuesday, 7th January 2024, with the Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway, Section III (Umuahia – Aba). He applauded the contractor, Messrs Arab Contractors (Nig.) Ltd. on the quality of work but instructed them to deploy in two more sites to speed up the construction and, most importantly, meet the set dateline. 

The Minister was also on Section IV (Aba – Port Harcourt) of the same alignment being handled by Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). 

He expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work, noting that they have only been able to access N7, 000,000,000:00K (Seven Billion Naira) out of the N21,000,000,000:00k (Twenty -One Billion Naira) provided for the project, last year.

Consequently, he instructed the Federal Controller of Works (FCW), Rivers State, to issue a warning to the contractor, promising to terminate it if there were no improvements in the tempo of work.  

The tour of duty also took the Minister to the Bodo-Bonny Road, where he, again, voiced discontent with the level of work achieved. 

He produced the Contractor, Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc (JBN) to upscale their deployment of men, materials, and machines, despite working throughout the Yuletide holidays.

The project, a critical component of the South-South zone’s infrastructure development, is a 2-lane road with hard shoulders, 17 bridges spanning 3,200 meters, and reinforced concrete pavement on Bonny Island.   

At all construction sites visited, Engr. Umahi stressed the urgency to meet deadlines, emphasizing that all Federal contractors must intensify their efforts to ensure the timely realization of projects, in line with the Federal Government’s resolve to enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth, succinctly captured in the Renewed Hope Agenda. 

The essence is to improve connectivity, as well as stimulate socio-economic growth, he further explained.  

The Minister issued clear directives to Federal Controllers of Works to present at least four (4) completed projects, each,  for commissioning from February to 20th May, this year. 

“The expectation is that every Controller delivers on his mandates, according to specifications and time allotted. 

There is no room for further delays,” he declared.  In light of the delay in the delivery of some projects, the Minister cautioned that the Ministry is poised to take decisive action. 

“The Ministry will not tolerate delays. Any contractor who does not meet his contractual obligations will face the consequences,  cumulating into a 14-day Notice of Termination of Contract,” he added, emphasizing that such actions would apply to all underperforming contracts.  

Despite the challenges, he reassured Nigerians that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR remains fully committed to the completion of inherited projects., as well as the four (4) 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,” he assured.