Julius Okorie
Following a directive by the Federal Executive Council (FEC), the Federal Ministry of Works and Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, have flagged off holistic appraisal of all ongoing projects awarded to the construction company with a view to completing them and alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians.
The Ministry held a meeting with the management of the construction company on 7th August at its Mabushi office in Abuja, to begin the appraisal.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelSpeaking at the resolutions reached during the meeting, the Minister of Works Engr, David Umahi, decried the state of projects inherited within the economic corridor of Nigeria that are being delayed by issue of price differentials and poor funding.
He enjoined the construction company to be open to acceptable modalities in finding lasting solutions to the projects.
The ministry of Works according to him, is committed to price control, value for money and commitment of contractors to projects awarded to them.
He listed some of the projects to include the second phase of the 2nd Niger Bridge, the 82km Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria -Kano highway, the phase two of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and under deck structural works at the Eko and Carter Bridge in Lagos.
“Our job is to develop this mechanism based on FEC directives, but in the conclusion, we have to involve the Minister of Finance and coordinating Minister of the Economy and finally we take a recommendation back to Mr President and of course FEC for consideration.”
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On the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria -Kano highway, the Minister commended the quality of the work being done by Julius Berger, he however directed the contractor to stick to one carriage way at a time and complete the job within three weeks.
“We agreed that this project within their own corridor will last for 14 months and it will also be developed in four sections and we will be paying them N20 billion every month to get the job completed.”
He, however, informed that in the case of Lagos -Ibadan expressway, the Ministry has no choice than to terminate the contract because negotiation has been on since September last year and has come to a cross road where the Bureau of Public Procurement will have to invite other contractors to bid along.
Engr Umahi has at several forums maintained that only competent contractors will be allowed to handle road projects in the country.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
