Minister of works, Engr. David Umahi, has issued a marching order to all the contractors handling the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella- Okene- Lokoja road to commence rehabilitation work or face termination of their contracts.
Umahi handed over the warning during his inspection visit to the various project sites in Edo State at the weekend.
This was contained in a statement issued by the special Adviser to the Minister of works, on media and publicity, Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji.
The Minister, who disclosed that the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu had released funds to the contractors handling the federal projects, warned that contractors who fail to fully mobilize and commence work on the projects would have their contracts terminated and such companies blacklisted.
Speaking after a meeting with the Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, the Minister described as unacceptable the delay by the contractors despite the FG’s prompt release of funds to them for the projects.
On the recent protest along the Jattu axis of the Benin-Auchi highway by the residents of the area which disrupted vehicular movements, the Minister said that his meeting with the Governor was to brainstorm on the drastic measures to tackle the issues affecting the progress of work in the area.
“I have had a very serious meeting with the Governor here. We are concerned about what is happening between Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella and the axis of Kogi State.
“That is what we have been brainstorming on. I have worked with him throughout last night to direct that the road should be unblocked, and if you see the grievances of those people you will not blame them so much, because people are dying, trucks are falling,” he said.
On his part, Governor Obaseki thanked the Minister for his deep sense of commitment to the development of road infrastructure in Nigeria.
He assured of the unwavering support of his administration to the concrete technology initiative introduced by the Renewed Hope administration, which he said was the best model for the road infrastructure along the East West and indeed other parts of the country.
“First, let me thank my brother and very good friend, the Honourable Minister of Works, who you know is an engineer par excellence, for the concern he has shown. Same time last year when I cried for help ahead of the rainy season, we didn’t get this kind of response.
“We shall not continue to use expensive asphalt to do our roads. We should use sustainable local materials; we produce cement and steel, there is no reason we cannot begin to move towards utilizing more concrete in building our roads for sustainability so that our roads can last longer,” he stated.
