Federal Government Threatens 37 Contractors of Potential Termination for Emergency Projects
The Federal Government has issued a stern ultimatum to 37 contractors responsible for handling the nation’s emergency road projects.
Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, announced that these contractors have three months to meet the requirements stipulated by the Standard Conditions of Contract or face termination.
This ultimatum was delivered during a meeting held on Monday at the Ministry of Works headquarters. The meeting included the Ministry’s management, the contractors, and the Federal Controllers of Works.
The Renewed Hope emergency road projects, funded by the 2023 Supplementary Budget, aim to address the severely deteriorated sections of critical federal roads nationwide.
However, Engr Umahi highlighted that several contractors have failed to achieve significant progress since the contracts were awarded.
He demanded that these contractors effectively mobilize to their respective sites by Wednesday, July 10, 2024, or risk contract termination.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Uchenna Orji, and made available to DAILY POST, Umahi warned that any contractor failing to comply with the mobilization deadline would see their contract terminated due to time expiration.
Additionally, contractors whose projects remain incomplete beyond three months must obtain approval for a time extension from the Federal Ministry of Works.
The defaulting contractors, primarily responsible for projects in Yobe, Jigawa, Zamfara, Benue, Kogi, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, and Rivers States, were warned that no excuses related to security challenges or lack of mobilization funds would be accepted.
These contractors were also cautioned that failing to deliver would result in being blacklisted.
“The people are suffering, the President is having sleepless nights in his efforts to fix our road infrastructure to help our economy, and people will be given jobs and they are telling us stories,” Umahi stated.
He emphasized that contractors should have been aware of the security situations before accepting the jobs and that previous excuses would no longer be tolerated.
Engr Umahi also directed the Federal Controllers of Works to ensure proper supervision of projects in their states and to stay informed about contract details, including award dates, timelines, and contractor presence on-site.
He clarified that mobilization funding under the Standard Conditions of Contract is discretionary and contingent on a contractor’s commitment to completing the job within three months.
Umahi stated, “Our new policy is that if you want mobilization and we are happy to give you, you will abide by the conditions. One is that there will be no review of any component of the mobilization given. Two, we will give you 30% and you will do 30% of work before we can give you another money.”
Permanent Secretary Yakubu Adam Kofarmata echoed the Minister’s sentiments, emphasizing that the era of contractors taking the country for granted is over.
He urged contractors to adopt a “Nigeria first” attitude under the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Tinubu.
“Honestly, we have a stake. It is about the Nigerian nation. We don’t have any other country other than Nigeria,” Kofarmata remarked. He encouraged contractors to prioritize the nation’s interests to ensure the timely completion of essential infrastructure projects.
