Umahi Warns Officials Against Office Monitoring, Demands Site Inspections
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
“Go hard on the contractors. Go straight to the site, not sit in the office. The sites need your extra attention to ensure quality and timely delivery,” Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi charged Federal Controllers of Works (FCW) in all the thirty-six (36) states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Director, Information and Public Relations of the Ministry, Mohammed Ahmed disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Ahmed said the Minister gave the charge during a strategic interaction with the officials at the Ministry’s Headquarters, where he emphasised that their responsibilities extend beyond routine administrative duties.
He informed that they were the Ministry’s representatives at the sub-national level and play critical roles in ensuring that projects are properly supervised, challenges are promptly addressed, and the public is constantly informed. He therefore urged the Controllers to take greater ownership of the projects under their jurisdiction and to establish stronger working relationships with state governments, contractors, traditional institutions, community groups, other stakeholders, and the media.
Engr, Umahi insists that effective communication must complement effective project delivery, noting that road users and citizens should be able to access clear and factual information on projects being executed, including their locations, scope, implementation status and expected benefits.
He urged the Controllers to demonstrate greater commitment to the welfare of road users by remaining physically present at project sites, identifying and surmounting construction challenges early and ensuring that contractors adhere to approved specifications, quality standards and contractual obligations.
He also directed the Controllers to be proactive in resolving technical and construction-related challenges within the provisions of existing contracts. In this regard, he explained that legitimate provisions in the Bill of Quantities (B.O.Q.) and Contingencies should be properly understood and applied in accordance with the relevant contractual conditions, where necessary adjustments are required to facilitate efficient project delivery.
The Minister, however, cautioned that such provisions must not be used to create unnecessary work or additional expenditure for contractors, stressing that every adjustment must be technically justified, properly documented and approved, and directed towards achieving value for money, as well as improved project outcomes.
Engr. Umahi further emphasised the importance of professional judgement and timely decision-making, noting that unnecessary delays in addressing legitimate project challenges could increase cost, prolong construction period, and increase difficulties being experienced by road users. He promised continuous capacity building within the Ministry, particularly for technical personnel involved in project monitoring and evaluation. He explained that officers who require additional training would be exposed to appropriate learning opportunities to broaden their technical and professional competencies, adding that personnel must remain abreast of international construction best practices, contract administration, and project management procedures.
The Minister urged the Controllers to take personal interest in construction activities, observing that practical knowledge acquired from project sites is essential to effective supervision. He stressed that technical officers must not limit their responsibilities to office-based assessments but should regularly inspect project sites, interact with contractors and verify the quality and progress of work on the ground. “Go hard on the contractors. Go straight to the site, not sit in the office. The sites need your extra attention to ensure quality and timely delivery,” the Minister directed.
He equally directed them to strengthen public awareness of the projects through a robust infrastructure communication plan across the states and the FCT. This, he explained, should include strategically located project information signages, media engagements, documentaries, radio and television jingles, project tours and community-level communication. He advised them not to compromise professional standards or overlook deficiencies in project execution, stressing that effective supervision requires diligence, courage and a clear commitment to public interest.
Engr. Umahi also called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Controllers, Zonal and Coordinating Directors, noting that regular communication and coordinated actions would improve the speed and quality of decision-making on project-related issues. He assured them that the Ministry will continue to focus on solving problems and removing avoidable obstacles to project delivery, adding that officials should always approach their responsibilities with a sense of ownership and accountability.
He encouraged the Controllers to place the interests of road users and host communities at the centre of their professional calling, stressing that the ultimate measure of the Ministry’s success is the extent to which infrastructure enhances mobility, supports economic activities and improves the quality of life of citizens.
