Enugu-Port harcourt road: Umahi gives contractors 14 days termination notice

By Mashe Umaru Gwamna

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed that 14 days termination notice be issued to Messrs China Civil Engineering Construction CECC) which is handling the Abia Section of Enugu-Port Harcourt Highway currently undergoing rehabilitation for reason of non-performance.
This was contained in a press statement signed and issued by Director Information, Olusola Abiola.
The Minister gave the directive yesterday when he inspected the progress of work at Ozuaku, after Imo bridge along Enugu- Port Harcourt expressway.
“ I’ve just directed that they should issue them 14 days termination notice using all due process on construction. After 14 days, if they fail to do what we have asked them to do, then we will have to do the termination notice.”
Adding “We will no longer tolerate the situation where contractors will put blank ranks on site. And they will be escalating construction costs by delaying the completion of project date.”
Continuing, he said “and we have reached an agreement in Ministry of Works that in the coming weeks, all non-performing contracts using due process will be terminated and re-awarded.”, he disclosed.
The Honourable Minister explaining the reason why contractors should demonstrate commitment said, “We let them know the suffering of Nigerians. We are here to help them and we will do everything to help them,” he stressed.
Sen. Umahi then observed that “ the cost of non-completion of this project has a lot to do with contractors. Where contractors stay on projects over and over and be pretending, thereafter, they come to request for augmentation every year refusing to leave the site.”
He however assured that “we will force them out of site either on the terms of completion or on the terms of termination.
This is what we are going to do.”
Stressing the imperative for the Ministry to deliver quality and good highways to Nigerians, the Honourable Minister averred that “ it is very important to appreciate all the efforts of Mr. President who has been providing funds for our road infrastructure projects; which is very, very good.”
Sen. Umahi added that despite over 3,000 road projects inherited by this administration, President Tinubu must be commended for providing huge resources for our road network stating, “so it’s kudos to Mr. President and it shows that Mr. President is very, very sensitive to our road infrastructure needs. And so we must do everything to support the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President, irrespective or notwithstanding any blackmail,” he declared.