The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Sunday, issued a 14-day termination notice to the contractor handling the Abia section of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway currently undergoing rehabilitation for reason of non-performance.
The Director of Information, Olusola Abiola, in a statement, said the notice for termination was directed by the minister after an inspection of the work progress at Ozuaku after the Imo bridge along the Enugu – Port Harcourt expressway.
The statement read, “The minister of works has just directed a 14-day termination notice to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction handling the Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway after using all due process on construction.
“After 14 days, if they fail to do what we have asked them to do, then we will have to do the termination notice.”
He explained that the government would no longer accept shabby jobs done by contractors, adding that there would consequences for poor performance.
“We will no longer tolerate the situation where contractors will put blank ranks on site. And they will be escalating construction costs by delaying the completion of the project date.
”We have reached an agreement in the Ministry of Works that in the coming weeks, all non-performing contracts using due process will be terminated and re-awarded,” he disclosed.
Stressing the imperative for the Ministry to deliver quality and good highways to Nigerians, the minister indicated that “it is very important to appreciate all the efforts of Mr. President who has been providing funds for our road infrastructure projects; which is very, very good.”
Umahi added that despite over 3,000 road projects inherited by this administration, President Bola Tinubu must be commended for providing huge resources for our road networks, stating, “So it’s kudos to Mr. President and it shows that Mr. President is very, very sensitive to our road infrastructure needs. And so we must do everything to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, irrespective or notwithstanding any blackmail,” he stated.
This latest directive is the second issued by the minister since he assumed office.
Last year September, he ordered the immediate suspension of construction work at the Kaiama section of the East-West road in Bayelsa State over complaints of a shoddy job done by the contractor.
Umahi, while expressing his anger over the development, said despite receiving N71bn, the contractor was delivering a low-quality job.
In January 2024, the minister also ordered the immediate suspension of reconstruction work at the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West Road in Rivers State, following the use of sub-standard materials by the contractor handling the project but reversed the suspension twenty hours later after a closed-door meeting with the contractor and the ministry’s officials.