2 weeks ago
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Minister of Works, David Umahi, has warned contractors handling government projects sternly, emphasising that any contractor lacking the necessary equipment promised in their bid will face contract termination.
Umahi said this during a stakeholders’ meeting to address ongoing developments on the Lagos-Calabar highway, which aired live on NTA on Sunday.
Umahi said, “Any contractor that doesn’t have the equipment he quoted in his bid to do a job, we have to bring down that contract.”
He provided an overview of recent budget allocations and interventions, highlighting the government’s commitment to repairing roads and bridges in dire need of maintenance.
He said, “In the supplementary budget in 2023, Mr. President saw the plight of the people when he came on board,” Umahi stated. “He saw that a number of our bridges were in a poor state and the number of roads in poor condition were many. So, he directed the ministry to go around and bring up the palliative.
“We went around and got 260 projects and about 50 bridge interventions. Altogether, that’s about 330 projects with a total budget of 207bn naira.”
Out of this, Umahi explaine that only 100 billion naira was allocated in 2023, with the remaining 107 billion carried forward into the 2024 budget.
“The ongoing projects now are a balance of the 200bn naira in the supplementary budget,” he said, adding that these funds were earmarked for both new projects and to enhance funding for existing ones.
He announced that the ministry is close to completing 95 per cent of these projects, with transparency being a priority.
“We’re going to be publishing the performances in the next 10 days. We have performed over 95 per cent completion, excellent completion.
“The location, the GPS, the contractor, the phone number of the contractor, and Nigerians can go and see,” he said.
Umahi also expressed concerns regarding the limited scope for unbudgeted interventions.
“I get surprised, even with our headmasters (National Assembly), when they talk about certain interventions, and they know very well that this intervention they’re asking us to do, they didn’t have it in the budget,” he said.
The minister emphasised the president’s responsiveness to urgent infrastructure needs, stating, “Mr. President has helped and intervened in the following projects, by reason of the motions of the National Assembly and the observation of Mr. President. Of course, he watches the television, sees the newspapers, listens to the public, and feels their pains.
“In line with this, Mr President has mandated that the Abuja-Kano motorway be maintained and kept pothole-free while permanent works proceed.
