.. .Urges contractor to deliver or be shipped out
By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has charged Julius Berger, the contractor handling the Abuja-Kano dual carriageway to deliver the N740 billion deal on amount agreed or else contract will be terminated if they are not committed to the contract terms.
This is coming even as he warned Julius Berger management to stop playing games with federal government road projects.
Mr. Mohammed Ahmed, Director, Press and Public relations at the Ministry quoted the Minister as saying in a statement…”The Minister disclosed that if Messrs. Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc are not willing to continue with the project at the agreed amount, they may as well come out plain, as the Ministry is ready to do it on concrete, while maintaining the same quality with that of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway or the Apapa-Oworonshoki, expressway, which is built to last for between 50-100 years.
The Ministry however acknowledged that one of the key areas of focus President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the crest of his Renewed Hope Agenda is the construction, reconstruction and rehabilitation of road infrastructure to enhance economic growth and social development.
One such road projects is the Abuja-Kaduna Dual Carriageway, which has been under construction for many years. The economic importance of this road cannot be over emphasised, as it links the Federal Capital, Abuja to the Northern part of the country, as well as facilitate the movement of people, goods and services.
To this end, the Minister officially flagged off the rehabilitation works on the Abuja-Kaduna road on Thursday, 17th October, 2024.
Speaking at the epoch making event, the Minister stated that the road project is in three sections: Abuja – Kaduna (Section I), Kaduna – Zaria (Section II) and Zaria – Kano (Section III). The Zaria – Kano section is substantially completed with about 17 kilometres remaining and has recently been expanded by about 5.3 kilometres to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano with solar street lightings. This is being handled by BUA (Nig.) Plc. The Kaduna – Zaria section is being handled by Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc.
However, due to the slow pace of work on Section I, he admonished the original contractor, Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc to stop playing games and pushing the Administration around but concentrate on delivering the project according to the reviewed contract sum of N740 billion, insisting that no further review would be entertained.
Umahi also maintained that President Bola Tinubu, has directed two prompt actions to be taken on the road to ease the plight of road users: palliative works to be effected on the failed portions, and the contractor have since mobilised to site and is expected to finish by the middle of November, as well as its total rehabilitation. “When completed, you can travel from here to Kaduna with your eyes closed,” he humorously remarked.
He said: “A portion of Section I of the road is awarded to Messrs Dangote Industries Plc, who sub- contracted it to Messrs Hitech (Nig.). The Minister, while flagging off the project, appealed to them to commence the work in three sections and, most importantly from the end where the road is critically bad. He commended the infrastructural initiative of Mr. President, stating that infrastructure, nationwide, was in a terrible state of decay on his assumption of office.”
In his welcome address, the Director, Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Umar Bakare, disclosed that the original contract was awarded to Julius Berger PLC. in 2018 and was divided into three (3) sections for ease of construction.
Section II is substantially completed, while Section III is at an advanced stage of completion but Section I is only about 27% completed. Due to the importance of the road as a major link to the FCT and its economic importance to the country, it has become imperative to fast track the completion of the outstanding sections of the Dual Carriageway.
Bakare, also informed that the length of the project is 38 kilometres (dual) within the Section I of the original contract. The scope of work consists of scarification, pulverization and compaction of the existing distressed pavement as sub- base. Provision of new stone- based to be stabilised with cement (3%) and provision of CRCP (continuously reinforced concrete pavement) on both the carriageway and the shoulders. It also includes the provision of hydraulic structures (culverts, lined drains etc.).
The amount for the contact is N145. 8 billion and it is expected to be completed within fourteen (14) months. The financing model is under the Tax Credit Scheme of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony, the representative of Dangote Group, Alh. Bukar Abba, thanked the Federal Government and, particularly the Minister for the confidence reposed in the Dangote Industries Ltd., while assuring that they would align very well with the project’s specifications and the proposed completion period.
The Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Onyekachi Nwebonyi and Sen. Adamu Aliero were full of praises for the Administration for coming to the aid of road users, while urging the contractor to deliver according to specifications, as well as the dateline.