By Dele Ogbodo
In alignment with the Rescue Mission and Renewed Hope Agenda (RHA) of President Bola Tinubu, as being tenaciously driven by the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, the Association of Ministry of Works’ Contractors (AMWC), has commended the Minister for the speedy and seamless arrangement in the payment of money to contractors handling road projects for the Ministry.
The association also commended the Minister for upping the ante and his uncommon commitment to international best standards of construction now witnessed across the country.
The commendation was made when a delegation of the association paid a courtesy call to the Minister at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja.
Receiving the delegation, Umahi, charged the contractors to continue to work for the future of Nigeria by making sacrifices that would support the economic recovery plans of the Renewed Hope administration of the President.
He commended the association for their support, encouragement and cooperation to the new policies and innovations of the Ministry.
He expressed the commitment of the Ministry in giving the indigenous contractors a level playing ground and equal opportunities in the award of contracts but harped on the need for all contractors to strictly adhere to procurement and job specifications, greater speed and best standards as the road infrastructure is the life-wire of the economy of every nation.
He further harped on the need for contractors to prepare to cut down costs in line with the economic realities of the country, having in mind the need for all to contribute towards alleviating the sufferings of Nigerians.
The Minister, said: “Also, let me thank you people for putting yourselves together to come. And thanks so much for your commendation of our modest achievements.
“I’m very proud of the indigenous contractors. I’ve been on site to see some of your jobs, and I have confidence in you.”
On the sponsored blackmail and falsehood often published by detractors, he said it was not unexpected for a person who wants a positive change from ‘the business as usual’ attitude of some contractors.
The Minister said, “So I am open to all the attacks, I’m open to all the blackmails.
At least let it be that our quarrel is not because I’m asking them to give me money, but to cut down on cost, in line with the economic realities of the country, where everybody must make sacrifices.
The indigenous contractors are as committed as us. We have already sailed. The ship is at the high sea. If it goes bad, all of us will go in. But if the ship goes bad, there are some people whose people will send a plane to come and evacuate them.
We are not evacuatable. So we have to make sacrifices to support President Tinubu for Nigeria’s development, he added.
He expressed hope that with the President’s commendable and timely intervention on road infrastructure development and the timely release of funds to contractors, the contractors would deliver, and the economy would be alive again.
He said, “We have to take back the country, to rescue our people from sufferings based on terrible roads. Road is everything. If we have good roads, kidnapping will reduce, insecurity will reduce, commerce will increase, transportation costs will become cheaper.
“Social activities will be there. You can see the cost of the flight now. So if the flight is increased, poor people can use the road. Then it’s a problem.
“So we should have a conscience. Place God first because God represents the people in all that we do.”
In a remark, the spokesperson of the Association, Alhaji Abdul- kareen Smith, said they came as a delegation of the contractors drawn from the 6 geo-politcal zones of the Federation to convey their unwavering solidarity to the Minister and support to all the policies and programmes of the Ministry under the Renewed Hope administration for the wonderful infrastructural programmes currently going on in the sector.
“We have seen the good work you have been doing since your assumption of office. We have seen a lot. We have seen some passion that you put into the work, and that is uncommon.
“Our members cut across the 6 geo-political zones, they have sent us to tell you that we appreciate all the efforts you are doing and that we are solidly behind you and all your programmes.”
The association thanked
him for the introduction of concrete technology for Nigerian roads and other innovations, which, according to them, was a game changer for Nigeria’s economic regeneration.
He said. “We have seen a lot of changes in some of the things that you have brought about since your assumption of office. And maybe I should start with the concrete technology thing, which a lot of us and maybe some other people misconstrued in the first instance when it initially came in.
“But as of today, we can tell you that concrete technology is something that we have embraced. We have come to embrace it, and we are assuring you that we will do our work diligently whenever the opportunity comes.”
