The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a stern ultimatum to contractors handling critical road projects across Nigeria, emphasizing the urgency of delivering results in line with government timelines.
During an inspection tour on Wednesday, Umahi expressed concerns about delays and underperformance on several ongoing projects, particularly in the South-East and South-South regions.
At the East-West Road, Section III (Eleme Junction – Onne Junction), handled by Messrs Reynolds Construction Company, Umahi acknowledged the quality of work but demanded accelerated progress.
He warned that failure to meet the April 2025 deadline for completing a section of the carriageway could lead to re-scoping or termination of the contract.
In a statement released by Mohammed Ahmed, Director of Press and Public Relations, the Minister highlighted similar challenges with Section IV (Aba – Port Harcourt) of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, managed by Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Company.
Despite a N21 billion allocation, only N7 billion has been accessed, prompting Umahi to instruct Rivers State’s Federal Controller of Works to issue a warning and consider termination if improvements are not evident.
Meanwhile, the minister commended Messrs Arab Contractors (Nig.) Ltd for their quality work but directed them to deploy resources to additional sites to meet the agreed deadlines.
Umahi also visited the Bodo-Bonny Road, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the progress made by Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc.
Despite their commitment during the holiday season, the minister urged them to scale up operations to ensure timely delivery of the 2-lane road project, which includes 17 bridges and reinforced concrete pavement.
Reiterating the Federal Government’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” Umahi emphasized the importance of completing infrastructure projects to boost connectivity and economic growth.
He instructed federal controllers of works to ensure at least four projects are ready for commissioning between February and May 2025.
The minister’s zero-tolerance approach to delays reflects the government’s resolve to prioritize infrastructure development. “No contractor should collect government funds and fail to deliver. We will take necessary actions to ensure successful project completion,” Umahi stated.
He reassured Nigerians of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to completing inherited projects and initiating new ones, underlining the administration’s vision for accelerated national development.