Nigeria road contracts threatened over slow pace

Nigeria’s Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued an ultimatum to contractors handling federal road projects in the country, threatening to terminate their contracts due to slow progress. Umahi made the announcement during an inspection of roads in Edo State, specifically the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi Expressway and the Benin-Asaba Expressway.

The Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) and warned that their contracts would be terminated if significant improvements were not made by Monday. In contrast, he commended BUA International for the quality of work on the Ekpoma section of the expressway, but urged the company to accelerate completion of the first 10km before the end of October.

Umahi also emphasized the need for federal directors and controllers to actively monitor project sites, rather than remaining in their offices. He warned that failure to do so could result in redeployment to Abuja. The Minister’s inspection tour highlighted the deplorable condition of some roads, prompting him to instruct contractors to provide palliative measures to alleviate the suffering of road users.

The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu, has prioritized road construction and rehabilitation, with a focus on ensuring durability and sustainability. The Minister noted that the President is committed to rewriting the history of road construction in Nigeria. Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State expressed gratitude to the President for prioritizing roads in the state, which has inspired confidence among the people.

The Federal Ministry of Works has handed over the completion of one full carriageway from Ewu to Agbor to the Edo State Government, with the design to be handled by the federal government and execution managed locally by the state. The move is expected to facilitate the timely completion of the project and improve road infrastructure in the state. With the ultimatum issued to contractors, the Nigerian government is taking a firm stance on ensuring that road projects are completed efficiently and effectively.