Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Highways : Umahi Stops Contractor Over Poor Job

By Sharon Akuboh, Abuja

The Minister of Works, Senator Engr David Umahi, has expressed disappointment over the quality of work done by contractors handling the Abuja-Lokoja Highway. Recommends Flyover for Ganaja Road.

Senator Umahi expressed his concern while meeting with stakeholders in his office on Wednesday said he was not impressed with the eight projects he inspected on Abuja-Lokoja Highway and that of Lokoja-Benin, citing lack of standard quality and poor execution.

After inspecting the Gada Biu Bridge along the Abuja-Lokoja Road, the Minister who complained that the retain walls among others were faulty and failing, ordered the contractor to stop work and come to the office for evaluation and review, to determine whether he would continue or be relieved of the contract.

“It will no longer be business as usual whereby contractors would get contract and delay or fail to deliver. If any contractor is found wanting in any projects, other contracts awarded to him will be revoked and given to competent ones,” he noted.

Umahi, while thanking the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello for fixing a greater part of the flood ravaged Ganaja corridor of the Lokoja-Benin Road, assured that the road would be reconstructed with concrete, even as he recommended that flyovers may be considered for the area due to persistent flooding, subject to his discussion with the President Bola Tinubu.

Upon assuming Office on Tuesday, August 22nd 2023, Senator Umahi hit the ground running in his new assignment as he kick-started with an inspection tour of the Abuja-Lokoja-Benin Highways shortly after meeting with the management of the ministry, Heads of Agencies and parastatals, contractors among other stakeholders for briefs at the Ministry’s headquarters located at Mabushi, Abuja.

Senator Umahi,who is immediate Past governor of Ebonyi state also charged engineers to embrace the use of concrete technology amidst FOREX challenges and petroleum crises and declared that his office would encourage the use of concrete technology and patronise local content in building roads so as to stir economic growth. “I did this in Ebonyi and I guarantee the roads would last 50-100 years”.

Declaring that “my major business is not in office but on the field, i seek the cooperation of the management and staff towards making the change envisaged by President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda a reality”.

The Minister of Works also vowed that under his watch files would not stay beyond two hours to be treated, but on the contrary, the erring Officers must explain why they are delayed”.

Speaking on behalf of the management and staff of the ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Mamman Mahmud assured the Minister of maximum support to enable him achieve the mandate of the sector.

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