The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi has directed contractors handling road projects to return to their respective sites within 14 days.
Umahi gave the directive during a meeting with contractors, partners, and strategic stakeholders in the Works Sector in Abuja on Wednesday, October 11, 2023.
He urged them to hasten up work on their respective roads, adding that Nigerians were tired of bad roads and could not continue to endure the game-playing of the contractors.
The Former Ebonyi State Governor queried where asphalt used in the country was being sourced from, as research showed that the importation of bitumen into the country was not up to five percent.
Umahi said enough was enough as Nigerians were tired of game playing and wanted to see a good 10km of good roads.
The Minister said failure to comply with his directive would lead to the termination of such a contract.
He further disclosed that any contractor with four projects would not be issued additional project(s) until the ongoing projects were completed and delivered.
He called on contractors to desist from saying what would be done, rather they should do what was expected of them.
The Minister also directed that letters be issued to all contractors against having any negations on their contacts but rather return to the site and do permanent work.
He said there would not be processing of certificates or payment of mobilisation fees to contractors who failed to obey the rules.
“If you want me to pay your mobilisation fee or process your certificate, please obey first. We want to know how you got your POP, how your POP probably occurred in labour, we want to know how much you spent on diesel that is used in the production of asphalt, in doing the work, so we want to know what the contractor is doing, we must know so that we can find out how we can come in to help.
“No program of work, no processing of your certificate and certification of your POP, and if there’s an increase in your contract you have to let us know how.
“So if you are waiting for payment, I will not pay, if you are waiting for the certificate to be signed I will not do it. The truth is, it’s our right to ask so that if I’m signing any certificate I’m bound to explain. So if they sue me it is not the Directors, Please give me the privilege to preserve my future by allowing me to know, if I carry the Bible or the Qur’an I will be able to say I know about it”, he said.
Umahi also hinted on engaging retired police officers in communities where the road projects were ongoing to help in providing adequate security for the expatriates.
