The Federal Government has issued a clear directive to contractors handling legacy road projects across the country, stating that vehicular access must not be blocked for more than 14 days under any circumstances. The government also warned that no contractor has the liberty to act arbitrarily in handling road projects. Additionally, a 72-hour ultimatum has been given to GELD Construction Company to effectively utilize funds already released and demonstrate visible progress on the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.
Minister's Inspection Tour
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, gave the directive during an inspection tour of ongoing road and bridge projects in Kogi and Edo States. He also criticized staff of his ministry for failing to properly supervise projects assigned to them with commitment, accusing them of pampering contractors and issuing certificates arbitrarily while the public blames President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and himself for ineptitude.
Umahi expressed dissatisfaction that staff of the Ministry of Works have found themselves in a situation where they cannot defend projects assigned to them before the National Assembly. He threatened to remove anyone found exhibiting such ineffectiveness going forward.
Pace of Work Concerns
The Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work on some sections of the Abuja-Lokoja dual carriageway and the dualisation of the Obajana Junction-Benin road. He asked contractors not to wait unnecessarily for government releases and called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to make payments to contractors handling projects funded by the oil giant.
Due to funding constraints, the scope of one section of the Abuja-Lokoja road had to be reduced from 49.28 kilometres to 28 kilometres to concentrate available resources on the most critical portions. Umahi stated, “I am very sad with what I saw on the ground. What was reported to us is not reflected in the actual work being done.”
Commendation and Progress
However, the Minister commended Messrs JRB Construction Company for the quality and pace of work on its project, describing the company as a model of professionalism and commitment. According to him, “If everybody does his job accordingly, there will be no reason to shift the blame to Mr. President.”
Engr. Umahi noted that a substantial percentage of Nigeria’s federal road network was in a terrible shape before the Tinubu administration came on board, but efforts are being made to fix the decay.
Projects Inspected
The Minister also visited the reconstruction of the existing pavement and completion of the additional carriageway on Section III of the Abuja–Lokoja Dual Carriageway, including works being executed by Trucrete Solutions Limited on the Koton Karfe–Abuja alignment. He inspected two critical bridge projects along the same corridor, as well as the ongoing dualisation of the Lokoja–Benin Road.
The projects inspected include Section I, Obajana Junction–Okene, and Section II covering the Okene–Auchi corridor across Kogi and Edo States. He also assessed progress on the flyover and interchange components of the project being executed by CCG Contractors, with the flyovers at approximately 80 percent completion and the interchange at about 30 percent.
