The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, disclosed that his Ministry has taken firm action by canceling contracts with 10 companies that failed to meet project standards.
He emphasized that the Ministry is prepared to take similarly strong measures against other underperforming firms if necessary.
During a town hall meeting and stakeholders’ engagement hosted by the Federal Ministry of Works in Akure, Ondo State, he highlighted recent strides by his ministry in improving national infrastructure and addressing stalled road projects.
He said, “We have terminated over 10 contracts of big companies and we have the mind to terminate more, and you can’t dictate to us. We will tell you what we want.”
Umahi explained that the administration had inherited more than 2,000 incomplete road projects costing trillions of Naira. Nevertheless, President Bola Tinubu’s government, he said, was committed to taking bold actions that would transform Nigeria’s road network. “Nigerians should be grateful that we have a listening President. He is committed to all sectors. This country still has a lot of potentials,” Umahi added.
The meeting focused specifically on the alignment of Ondo State with a 63-kilometer segment of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway, a project that would traverse seven states, bringing increased connectivity and economic opportunity to the region. Umahi affirmed that design plans for the Ondo State section would be finalized in November, aiming for project inauguration by year’s end. “We will conclude the design within the month of November and we will inaugurate it,” he assured attendees.
In addition to the coastal highway, Umahi also addressed ongoing issues faced by the Aiyetoro community, which has been struggling with severe sea incursion. He announced that the Federal Government, alongside the state, would prioritize a separate construction project in Aiyetoro following the election cycle. “We are coming back after your election to start the Aiyetoro project, which we will construct after this one,” he said.
Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State lauded President Tinubu for his commitment to legacy projects, asserting that these initiatives were impactful for the state’s economy and were not politically motivated. “He (Tinubu) is supporting us economically. I want to thank you for all the other projects in the country,” Aiyedatiwa remarked, pledging state cooperation with federal efforts to expedite the coastal highway construction.
Mr. Akin Alabi, Chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Works, expressed his support for the ministry’s renewed commitment to accountability. “Our aim is that, we want Nigeria to work. We have to say bye-bye to the practice of contractors collecting money and not working,” he stated, emphasizing that inactive contractors should not be compensated. “If contractors are not on-site, don’t pay them; that’s one of the biggest scams in the ministry,” he added.
Representing riverine communities, Mr. Banji Okunomo conveyed gratitude for the government’s consideration in routing the highway through the region’s 93-kilometer shoreline, a connection he said was long overdue. He also urged authorities to adhere to deadlines and promised community support to foster a conducive environment for project completion.
The event underscored the Tinubu administration’s resolve to implement sustainable infrastructure solutions, aligning with its vision of a more interconnected and economically viable Nigeria.
