By Daniel Tyokua
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi has threatened to weed out contractors, indigenous and expatriate, who are not committed to delivery.
He said some of the contractors have up to twenty five jobs awarded to them before President Bola Tinubu’s administration came on board.
Umahi stated this during inspection tour of the ongoing reconstruction and expansion of the 43.65km Mararaba -Keffi, as well as the Zuba -Kaduna roads, on Saturday.
The minister explained that any firm that is not ready to invest while waiting federal government payments, is not committed to the progress of the country.
“From next week, we are going to weed out contractors who are not committed. Some of them have up to 25 jobs awarded before we came on board. If you are not ready to invest while awaiting Federal Government payments, then you are not part of the progress of this country,” he said.
“We will remove those contractors who only wait for advance payments before working. Some have been benefiting for over 30 years.”
Umahi also warned Ministry of Works officials that failure to implement directives would attract sanctions.
“I am directing the directors and the contractor that whenever I issue directives and return to find them not implemented, I will remove the directors and controllers from the project.
“When we fail, people wrongly blame the President. We must look inward and correct ourselves. Nation-building is everyone’s responsibility” he said.
Umahi cautioned against indiscriminate removal of existing asphalt, directing that only 4 centimetres should be milled and mixed with 10 centimetres of stone base, stabilised with cement.
Milling it and stabilising with stone base and cement produces a rock-like structure. “I do not want to see removal of asphalt again. It is wasteful,” he said.
Umahi said median new Jersey barriers should be incorporated on completed sections to improve reflection of median lights.
“Median drainage areas must be properly cast to channel water and prevent asphalt damage.Concrete works must be done urgently, with potholes dug out, filled with sharp sand, stone base, and cement to restore structural integrity.
“Contractors must cast 10 centimetres of slope toward drainage and combine resources to execute shoulder works, including both China Harbour-style New Jersey barriers and the Ministry’s design.
“Solar lighting installation must begin immediately.Outer and inner shoulders must be completed before asphalt walkway works.
On security on the highways, he said the pilot scheme must commence quickly and be completed within four months, with ICT-based CCTV systems deployed using telecom networks such as MTN or Airtel for real-time monitoring.
The Minister also pledged to engage the NNPC to ensure release of funds already approved by the President to enable completion of the project and payment of contractors.
Meanwhile, Umahi described JRB Construction Company handling the Mararaba -Keffi road as one of the best indigenous contractors working for the Federal Government, citing its quality of work, equipment base, and commitment to intervention projects.
