The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has once again issued a stern warning to contractors handling 10 federal road projects in Niger State, threatening to revoke their contracts due to what he described as unnecessary delays and poor execution.
This ultimatum was announced during a high-profile stakeholder meeting at the Ministry of Works headquarters in Abuja.
The gathering, led by the minister, was attended by the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Bago, Minister of State for Works, Bello Goronyo, members of the Niger State House of Assembly, and the Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, Mohammed Sani.
Other key stakeholders concerned with the deteriorating condition of federal roads in the state were also present.
A statement released on Saturday by Orji Uchenna, Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, disclosed this development.
The renewed threat follows Governor Mohammed Bago’s earlier complaint during Umahi’s recent visit to Niger State, where he decried the deplorable state of the Abuja-Minna Road.
The governor went as far as labelling the company responsible as a “failed contractor,” drawing attention to the hardships faced by road users and the adverse socio-economic impact on the state.
The statement revealed Umahi’s dissatisfaction with the performance of certain contractors who, despite receiving substantial advance payments, had either failed to commence work or executed substandard projects.
“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,” the statement read.
Umahi emphasized that contractors who collect funds but fail to deliver quality and timely results will face serious consequences.
He further reiterated the administration’s commitment to prioritizing speed, quality, and value for money in the execution of federal projects.
List of Affected Projects
The statement identified the 10 ongoing projects in Niger State under scrutiny. These include:
1. Agaje-Katcha-Baro Road (52km): Contract No. 6254, handled by GR Building and Construction Nig. Ltd.
2. Suleja-Lambata-Minna Road, Phase I: Contract No. 6077, handled by Salini Nigeria Ltd.
3. Suleja-Lambata-Minna Road, Phase II: Contract No. 6267, handled by Salini Nigeria Ltd.
4. Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Junction Road, Section I: Handled by CGC Nig. Ltd.
5. Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Junction Road, Section II: Handled by CGC Nig. Ltd.
6. Bida-Lapai-Lambatta Road: Contract No. 6272, handled by CGC Nig. Ltd.
7. Mokwa-Makera-Tegina-Kaduna Road Rehabilitation: Handled by CGC Nig. Ltd.
8. Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora Road (Section 2): Handled by Gilmor Engineering Nig. Ltd.
9. Minna-Zungeru-Tegina Road Construction: Contract No. 7732, handled by Develeco Nig. Ltd./HMF Construction Ltd.
10. Bida-Cernu-Wushishi-Zungeru Road Reconstruction: Contract No. 8492, handled by Gerawa Global Engineering Ltd.
Umahi directed the immediate formation of a committee to evaluate the performance of the contractors and scrutinize their accounts before any contract terminations.
The Director of Legal Services was tasked to issue notices of termination to non-performing contractors, while the Niger State government was asked to recommend consultants for engineering designs to ensure effective project supervision.
The ministry also laid out resolutions for specific contractors:
Salini Nigeria Ltd: The company was accused of substandard work on two sections and was unanimously recommended for contract termination.
CGC Nig. Ltd: Praised for corporate social responsibility but instructed to repair flawed sections on the Bida-Lapai-Lambatta Road and accelerate progress on other projects.
Gilmor Engineering Nig. Ltd: Warned over delays blamed on security challenges and advised to liaise with the state government for security assistance.
Develeco Nig. Ltd./HMF Construction Ltd: Had 20km of their project descoped, with state authorities taking over the segment.
Gerawa Global Engineering Ltd: Advised to double efforts by deploying two work gangs to fast-track completion.
Governor Mohammed Bago stressed the dire consequences of substandard road construction on the state’s economy and security, urging the immediate revocation of underperforming contracts.
The Minister of State for Works reinforced the administration’s dedication to reversing the negative trends in Nigeria’s road infrastructure.
To ensure accountability, a follow-up meeting has been scheduled for January 2025 to assess the contractors’ progress in Niger State.
“It is hoped that these actions will finally place Niger State’s road projects on a trajectory of timely and high-quality completion,” the statement concluded.
