Nigeria’s Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of work done on the Abuja-Lokoja Expressway.
The Minister who addressed contractors at the Ministry’s headquarters in Abuja after inspecting the road threatened to review the contracts calling it a total failure.
“I inspected about eight projects on Abuja-Lokoja roads and I was disappointed with what I saw” he said.
He questioned the contractor handling the road projects if they will be happy to hear that the bridges constructed claimed lives through accidents.
Senator Umahi, further told the contractors that many of them would not like him and his style but he was only answerable to God and the President.
According to him, any contractor who fails in one project or any other projects been handled across the country would be terminated.
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Umahi said that he had come to the Ministry to work and explore all technological options that would make Nigerians have and enjoy new roads.
He said he has the mandate of the President to deliver on the road infrastructure in the country and therefore “there shall be no sacred cow in pursuit of the project to make Nigerian roads motor able.”
“I will be interrogating the jobs as I continue on the field for more project inspection.”
“I have the mandate of the President to ensure that the roads are good for Nigerians to fly,” he said.
The Minister therefore called on all contractors, especially the big construction companies to embrace concrete pavement for the construction of Nigerian roads as he argued that the technology offered the nation durable roads and maintenance free.
Meanwhile, he suggested a flyover on Koton karfe road in Kogi State, north-central Nigeria instead of a low bridge which could not solve the problem of flooding on the highway in the State.
Umahi indicated that people living on the bank of the River Niger would be relocated to a place yet to be approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
At Ganaja Federal Road where Governor Yahaya Bello had done some landscaping, Umahi promised to take it from there so that the road which had become a nightmare to motorists from South-East, South-West and South-South would have a relief.
Also, at Gito, the Minister frowned at the work done by the contractor, saying that some of the work had gulped billions of naira, yet some of them had no design.
Meanwhile, in Kogi Government House, the Governor noted that the people of Kogi state had suffered from bad roads, both socially and economically.
“The condition of our Federal roads has been a source of great concern to our administration, the people of Kogi State, and Nigerians in general, owing to the fact that Kogi is geographically the connecting point between Northern and Southern Nigeria.
“The suffering endured by commuters, the negative impact on trade and economic activities and the strain on our transportation system have not gone unnoticed. It is with this in mind that we extend our sincere appreciation to the Minister for not only acknowledging this plight but also for promising urgent interventions to alleviate the situation,” the Governor said.
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