The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has directed that 14 14-day termination notice be issued to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) handling the Abia Section of Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway currently undergoing rehabilitation over non-performance.
This was according to a statement issued by the Director of Information, Federal Ministry of Works, Olusola Abiola on Sunday, February 18, 2024.
Abiola said the Minister gave the directive this Sunday when he inspected the progress of work at Ozuaku, after the Imo bridge along the Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway.
According to Engr. Umahi, “I’ve just directed that they should issue them 14 days’ termination notice 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.
“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.
The Minister, while urging contractors to be committed to their work said, “we let them know the suffering of Nigerians. We are here to help them and we will do everything to help them.
“The cost of non-completion of this project has a lot to do with contractors. Where contractors stay on projects over and over and be pretending, thereafter, they come to request for augmentation every year refusing to leave the site.
“We will force them out of site either on the terms of completion or on the terms of termination. This is what we are going to do”.
Stressing the imperative for the Ministry to deliver quality and good highways to Nigerians, the Minister averred 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.”
The former Ebonyi State Governor added that despite over 3,000 road projects inherited by this administration, President Tinubu must be commended for providing huge resources for the country’s road network 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 said.
In another development, the Minister lauded Arab Contractors, the contractors carrying out rehabilitation on the 56km Abia State section of the Enugu -Port Harcourt highway for the quality of work done with words of encouragement.
He said, “the moment a contractor is performing very well, then you are a friend and that’s the bottom line”.
In the same vein, the Minister described as excellent the job performance of Messrs CGC Nig. Ltd handling Enugu State axis of the dual carriage after his inspection of the roads. He praised the contractor for the quality of work and equipment while requesting that the ongoing work on one section of the highway be completed by the middle of March as agreed.
