The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has threatened to discontinue the contracts of contractors in Niger State handling the construction of 10 federal roads.
Umahi stated that this was due to the unnecessary delay of the projects.
The minister made the threat during a stakeholder meeting with representatives on the deplorable conditions of federal roads in the state at the ministry headquarters in Abuja.
The meeting presided over by the minister was attended by the Governor of Niger State, Mohammed Bago, the Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, state assembly members, and the Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, Mohammed Sani, among other stakeholders.
Speaking at the meeting, Umahi condemned the deplorable state of the road, labelling the company in charge as a failed contractor.
He fumed over the attitude of some contractors handling federal roads in Niger State despite receiving various percentages of advance payment.
He said, “In line with the policy direction of the Renewed Hope administration on all ongoing federal road projects across the nation, the Federal Ministry of Works has given an ultimatum to contractors handling the 10 inherited ongoing projects in Niger State to move to site without further delay and ensure quality and speedy delivery of the projects they contracted to do or risk termination of such contracts.”
He stressed that there would be consequences for contractors who would collect money for projects and would delay or do sub-standard jobs or cannot deliver the projects in line with the policy direction of the current administration, which emphasizes speed, quality and value for money.
The 10 inherited ongoing federal road projects, as listed by the Minister, include the 52km Agaje-Katcha-Baro road in Niger State under Contract No: 6254 handled by GR Building and Construction Nig. Ltd, dualization of Suleja – Lambata – Minna Road, Phase I in Niger State Contract No: 6077 handled by Salini Nigeria Ltd, dualization of Suleja – Lambata – Minna Road, Phase II in Niger State Contract No: 6267 handled by Salini Nigeria Ltd, dualization of Ilorin, Jebba – Mokwa – Bokani Junction Road Section 1; Jebba – Mokwa – Bokani Junction in Kwara and Niger States handled by CGC Nig. Ltd.
Others are the dualisation of Ilorin, Jebba – Mokwa – Bokani Junction Road Section II, Jebba – Mokwa – Bokani Junction in Kwara and Niger States handled by CGC Nig. Ltd, reconstruction of Bida – Lapai – Lambatta Road in Niger State Contract No:6272 handled by CGC Nig. Ltd, rehabilitation of Mokwa – Makera – Tegina – Kaduna State handled by CGC Nig. Ltd, rehabilitation of Minna – Zungeru – Tegina – Kontagora Road in Niger State (Section 2) handled by Gilmor Engineering Nig Ltd,