Nigeria’s Federal Government has taken drastic measures to address the deplorable state of the Suleja-Minna road by declaring a state of emergency on its construction. Minister of Works, David Umahi, announced this decision during a recent inspection of the road, highlighting the urgent need for intervention.
The Suleja-Minna road project was initially awarded to Salini Nigeria Limited, but the contractor’s subpar work and abandonment of the project at some point led to a prolonged period of inactivity. Despite efforts to get the contractor to repair the road over the past year and a half, the situation remained unresolved. Niger Governor, Mohammed Bago, brought the matter to the attention of President Bola Tinubu, who subsequently directed the Ministry of Works to intervene.
Umahi described the road’s condition as “terrible,” causing travel times to increase by seven hours and resulting in accidents that have claimed lives. In response, he declared sections one and two of the project as emergency projects, emphasizing the need for swift action. The president’s directive for urgent intervention has led to the Ministry’s involvement, with Umahi stating that they will document the road’s condition and the contract to justify the emergency declaration.
The Minister emphasized that the Suleja-Minna road project was inherited from the previous administration, with the primary issue being the contractors’ poor performance. Despite being funded, the contractors’ work failed to meet expectations, prompting some individuals to lobby for Salini to continue the project. Umahi condemned this as “wickedness,” asserting that the government cannot continue to allow its people to suffer due to subpar work.
The contract with Salini has been irrevocably terminated due to the company’s failure to deliver satisfactory results. Umahi warned that if Salini fails to comply with the Ministry’s directives, the government will seek the intervention of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to recover the funds owed to the government. Two contractors are currently working on the project, with the Governor having awarded a portion of the road to CCCC International Engineering Nigeria Ltd. as part of his urban renewal agenda.
The road, which spans approximately 103 kilometers, has seen about 60 kilometers completed by the Governor. The remaining 146 kilometers are still pending, with CCCC having been given a 10-day ultimatum to mobilize and begin work on the most critical seven-kilometer stretch. Umahi emphasized that this is an emergency procurement, where work commences immediately, and pricing is verified later by the Bureau of Public Procurement. The Minister’s determination to address the situation is clear, as he vowed to take decisive action to ensure the project’s completion and hold those responsible for the delays accountable.
