The Federal Government has directed stricter measures against contractors who failed to deliver its road infrastructure projects within agreed timelines despite receiving substantial advance payments.
This followed the announcement of a new roadmap by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to fast-track the completion of key road projects in Kogi State after a meeting with contractors in Abuja on Thursday, where he expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work on the Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Anyigba road and the Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe dual carriageway
Both projects were awarded in 2022 to CCECC Nigeria Ltd and TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Ltd respectively, and were initially scheduled for completion in 2024.
According to Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister in a statement on Thursday, Umahi frowned at the delay of the contractors in achieving the key deliverables of the projects within the timelines and financial resources made available by the Federal government.
The Minister emphasized that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration remains committed to a road infrastructure revolution anchored on quality, speed and value for money in project delivery.
On the 52.27-kilometre Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe project handled by CCECC, the Minister disclosed that only 1.97 percent of the work had been achieved despite the release of ₦2.5 billion as an advance payment.
He therefore directed the Director of Highway North Central to issue a warning letter to the contractor, mandating them to resume work within 30 days at the old rate, after which the balance of the job yet to be done would be mutually terminated to enable the Ministry to procure the remaining section of the project for enhanced funding and execution.
Similarly, on the Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Anyigba project with a spur from Dekina to Ugbabo, handled by TEC Engineering Company, Umahi revealed that only 1.04 percent of the contract had been completed despite a ₦1 billion advance.
He ordered that the contractor should lay 3km of asphalt by December 2025, after which a final account would be made based on the milestones completed, and the job would be terminated on a mutual basis.
The Minister also directed that consultancies on both projects be mutually terminated pending the award of new contracts.
According to the statement, the meeting was attended by senior ministry officials, project consultants, representatives of the contractors, and the Kogi State Commissioner for Works, Engr. Muhammed Yusuf.
