The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has tasked contractors to deploy extra assets to fulfill the undertaking completion timelines or face termination of contracts.
He gave the cost whereas inspecting street protects within the South-East and South-South areas of the nation.
In an announcement by the Director of Info, Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed, Umahi expressed satisfaction with the standard of labor on the Part III of East-West Highway (Eleme Junction – Onne Junction), however directed the contractor, Messrs Reynolds Building Firm (RCC), to deploy extra assets to hasten the tempo of labor or face re-scoping and re-award of the contract.
The Minister reminded the contractor that it has as much as the tip of April, 2025, to ship a piece of the carriageway.
The assertion stated Umahi started the inspection of ongoing street tasks within the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, with the Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway Part III (Umuahia – Aba) the place he applauded the contractor, Messrs Arab Contractors (Nig.) Ltd., on the standard of labor however instructed them to deploy in two extra websites to hurry up the development and meet the set dateline.
The Minister, who additionally visited Part IV (Aba – Port Harcourt) of the identical alignment being dealt with by Messrs China Civil Engineering Building Firm (CCECC), expressed displeasure over the sluggish tempo of labor, noting that they’ve solely been in a position to entry N7, 000,000,000:00 out of the N21,000,000,000:00 supplied for the undertaking final 12 months.
Consequently, he instructed the Federal Controller of Works (FCW) in Rivers State to difficulty a warning discover to the contractor, promising to terminate it, if there was no enhancements within the tempo of labor.
Umahi additionally visited the Bodo-Bonny Highway, the place he voiced discontent with the extent of labor achieved.
He prodded the Contractor, Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc (JBN), to upscale their deployment of males, supplies and machines, regardless of working all through the Yuletide holidays.
The undertaking, a vital part of the South-South zone’s infrastructure improvement, is a 2-lane street with onerous shoulders, 17 bridges spanning 3,200 meters and strengthened concrete pavement on Bonny Island.
In any respect building websites visited, Engr. Umahi confused the urgency to fulfill deadlines, emphasising that every one contractors should intensify their efforts to make sure the well timed realisation of the tasks, in step with the Federal Authorities’s resolve to boost infrastructure and transportation as enablers of progress, succinctly captured within the President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The essence is to enhance connectivity, in addition to stimulate socio-economic progress,” he stated.
The Minister issued clear directives to Federal Controllers of Works to current at the least 4 accomplished tasks every for commissioning from February to Could 20 this 12 months.
“The expectation is that each Controller delivers on his mandates, in keeping with specs and time allotted. There is no such thing as a room for additional delays,” he declared.
Within the gentle of the delay within the supply of some tasks, the Minister cautioned that the Ministry was poised to take decisive actions.
He stated: “The Ministry is not going to tolerate delays. Any contractor, who doesn’t meet his contractual obligations will face penalties, cumulating right into a 14-day Discover of Termination of Contract,” he added, emphasising that such actions would apply to all underperforming contracts.
Regardless of the challenges, he reassured Nigerians that President Tinubu remained totally dedicated to the completion of inherited tasks in addition to the 4 Legacy Tasks he initiated.
“The President has not deserted these tasks. It’s the contractors, who’ve delayed the work. This 12 months, we might be stricter in making certain that tasks are accomplished on the right track,” he assured.
Engr. Umahi assured that the Ministry will proceed to carefully monitor all ongoing tasks, making certain that they align with President Tinubu’s imaginative and prescient for accelerated nationwide progress and improvement. He concluded by calling for better teamwork from all stakeholders within the administration and supply of street and bridge tasks.
“All of us have to work collectively – authorities, contractors and most people in the direction of making certain that deadlines are met. No contractor ought to gather authorities funds and fail to ship on their guarantees. Henceforth, we might be extra observant and take mandatory actions in the direction of making certain the profitable completion of those tasks,” he said.
