Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has withdrawn the warning letter earlier issued to China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC).
The Minister’s Spokesperson, Barr. Orji Uchenna disclosed this in a statement issued on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
TheFact Daily recalls that Engr. Umahi had in its publication on February 18 directed that a 14-day termination notice be issued to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC) handling the Abia Section of Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway over non-performance.
Uchenna also disclosed that the Minister restated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that all Federal road projects are executed speedily and delivered in the best standards.
He said the Minister gave this assurance during his inspection visit to the rehabilitation work at Enugu- Port Harcourt dual carriageway section 4 ( Aba-PH) executed by China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd(CCECC).
He further commended the contractor handling the project for showing purposefulness and therefore announced the revocation of the warning letter issued to him a fortnight ago over their delay in mobilising to the site despite the government’s directive.
“The warning letter given to CCECC for the slow pace of work is hereby revoked. The new pace of work is excellent, the job quality is excellent, and the Controller sends me progress reports every day”, he said.
The Minister, who also inspected the Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu- Port Harcourt dual carriageway section 2 (Umuahia Tower- Aba Township Rail/ Road) in Abia State, handled by the Arab Contractors; the East-West Road section 111 (Eleme-Onne junction) in Rivers State handled by Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Ltd; the Rehabilitation of Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway Section 3 (Enugu -Lokpanta) in Enugu State handled by CGC, said he was impressed by the progress of work on the respective projects.
He said of RCC, “I want to commend RCC openly and with all sincerity. I will also take the quality of work going on to Mr. President because he directed me. I was just barely one week in office when he directed me to go and flag off this project because the leaders of Niger Delta came to visit him, and they complained bitterly about the road”.
He also commended the Arab Contractors: “I am very happy that the Arab Contractors have done a good job. I commend the contractor. Anybody who wants to see a good job should come here. The Controller of Abia State is doing extremely well together with his engineers.”
While at the CGC project site, he said, “I have seen the work they are doing, they are doing a very beautiful work. The job quality is very good and the speed is also very good. They are among the contractors that have the highest number of equipment in any of their project sites. So I commend them very highly.”
The contractors who spoke during the inspection visit to their respective project sites said they were committed to the new order in road infrastructure development in Nigeria and assured the Minister that they would ensure quality and speed in the delivery of their road projects.
The Project Manager of CCECC in charge of Enugu- Port Harcourt Expressway, Mr. Henry Shaw said, “I am going to assure you that the Honourable Minister, His Excellency is a professional Engineer with a great difference. He knows everything, so nobody can cheat him.”
