By Nkechinyere Ewa-Okpara
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has announced the termination of the contract awarded to Levant Construction Ltd for the reconstruction of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road (Section 1: Benin – Imasabor), citing non-performance.
Umahi, who made the announcement during a meeting with the chief executives of GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd, expressed disappointment over Levant’s consistent failure to meet its contractual obligations despite multiple warnings and notices.
“I have ordered the termination of the contract with Levant Construction Ltd due to their failure and/or neglect to live up to expectations on the job. They failed to respond to repeated warnings, which left us with no choice but to terminate the agreement,” the Minister said.
He directed the Permanent Secretary to formalize the termination, initiate a joint measurement of the work done so far, and pursue repayment of the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG). He further hinted that the matter could be referred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), if necessary.
In contrast, Umahi expressed satisfaction with GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd, both of whom have pledged to accelerate work on their respective sections of the same road project.
He also appreciated the interventions of the Delta and Edo State Governors in rehabilitating parts of the road, describing their contributions as commendable.
Addressing concerns about regional imbalance in road infrastructure development, Umahi assured Nigerians that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration is committed to inclusive development across the country.
“We are executing numerous road projects in the North such as the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road, Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road, and the Kano Northern Bypass. In fact, 52% of the President’s four legacy projects are in the North, while 48% are in the South,” he stated.
He called on Nigerians to see ongoing infrastructure projects as national assets meant to drive development and economic integration across regions.
“I remain committed to the Ministry’s mission of restoring public confidence in Nigeria’s road infrastructure and showcasing the transformational power of the Renewed Hope agenda,” Umahi affirmed.