Umahi Warns Contractors to Meet Deadlines or Face Contract Termination

The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has issued a stern warning to contractors, urging them to allocate more resources to ensure the timely completion of projects, or face the termination of their contracts.

The Minister made this declaration during an inspection of ongoing road projects across the South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.

In a statement released by the Director of Information at the Ministry of Works, Mohammed Ahmed, Umahi expressed satisfaction with the quality of work on Section III of the East-West Road (Eleme Junction – Onne Junction). However, he instructed the contractor, Messrs Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), to speed up the pace of work by deploying additional resources or risk having the contract re-scoped and re-awarded.

Umahi reminded RCC that the deadline for the delivery of this section of the carriageway is set for the end of April 2025.

The Minister began his inspection on Tuesday, January 7, 2024, starting with the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway Section III (Umuahia – Aba). He praised the contractor, Messrs Arab Contractors (Nig.) Ltd., for the quality of work but urged them to expand their operations by deploying resources to two more sites in order to meet the project’s deadline.

During his visit to Section IV (Aba – Port Harcourt) of the same expressway, managed by Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Umahi expressed his dissatisfaction with the slow progress. He pointed out that only N7 billion of the N21 billion allocated for the project had been accessed in the previous year. As a result, he instructed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State to issue a warning to the contractor, threatening termination if there was no noticeable improvement in the work rate.

Umahi also visited the Bodo-Bonny Road project, where he expressed frustration over the limited progress. He urged the contractor, Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc, to increase the deployment of men, materials, and machinery, despite their continued work through the holiday period. The Bodo-Bonny Road is a critical project for the South-South region, involving a 2-lane road with hard shoulders, 17 bridges, and reinforced concrete pavement on Bonny Island.

At every site he visited, Umahi emphasized the urgency of meeting deadlines. He stressed that all contractors must step up their efforts to ensure the timely completion of projects, aligning with the Federal Government’s broader goal of enhancing infrastructure and transportation as key drivers of economic growth, as outlined in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The aim is to improve connectivity and stimulate socio-economic growth,” Umahi stated.

The Minister set a clear directive for the Federal Controllers of Works, expecting at least four completed projects from each Controller to be ready for commissioning between February and May 2025.

“There will be no further delays. Every Controller must meet their deadlines and specifications,” he declared.

Umahi also warned that any contractor failing to meet contractual obligations will face penalties, including a 14-day Notice of Termination of Contract. He made it clear that the Ministry would not tolerate any more delays.

“The Ministry will not accept any excuses for delays. Contractors who do not fulfill their obligations will face the consequences, including the termination of their contracts,” he emphasized.

Despite ongoing challenges, Umahi reassured the public that President Tinubu is fully committed to completing inherited projects, as well as the four Legacy Projects he initiated.

“The President has not abandoned these projects; it’s the contractors who have caused delays. This year, we will be stricter about ensuring these projects stay on track,” he assured.

Umahi concluded by reaffirming the Ministry’s commitment to closely monitoring all ongoing projects, ensuring they align with President Tinubu’s vision for national growth and development. He also called for stronger collaboration among all stakeholders in managing and delivering road and bridge projects.

“We must all work together – government, contractors, and the public – to meet deadlines. No contractor should collect government funds without delivering on their promises. Moving forward, we will be vigilant and take necessary actions to ensure these projects are completed successfully,” he stated.