UMAHI, EDUN INSPECT ON-GOING CONSTRUCTION OF ABUJA-KADUNA HIGHWAY ..... Give Assurances Of Resolving Financial Issues With Contractor Firm, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc

Senator Umahi, flanked by Finance Minister, Wale Edun and Engr Lars Richter, Managing Director Julius Berger Nig Plc

"We have got a commitment from the Honourable Minister of Finance to make payment, and I am very sure if we pay Julius Berger Plc according to the commitment on funding, it will complete the job." Engr Umahi

"We have issues of reviewing the contract sum and we will sort that out. We sent our technical team to re-examine the sub grade which  will be the basis of our redesign. Let me emphasis that this is the first project we are touring in this place and, Mr President in his Renewed Hope Agenda has expressed his deep concern on the completion of the project and he has directed that everything must be done to get the entire project completed."

NIGERIA'S Minister of Works, Engr. Nweze David Umahi alongside his counterpart, the Minister of Finance/Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun on Friday, January 12 undertook a first-hand inspection visit of the ongoing construction project of sections of the Abuja-Kaduna Highway.

This is in keeping with the presidential innovations on inter-ministerial coordination, cooperation, and collaboration in the tackling of sectoral  problems under the Renewed Hope administration of His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR.

The dual carriageway which has been a source of concern to road users because  of the many dilapidated sections of the route including security challenges, was awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. This could not be completed due to increased insecurity and funding challenges. 

"The administration of Mr. President views the road as very critical for the socio-economic advancement  of the nation and is therefore committed  to completing the project on a record  time." This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the Special Adviser on Media to the Honourable Minister of Works, Orji Uchenna Orji.

While brainstorming on strategies and milestones for fixing the road, the Hon. Minister of Works assured the contractors that funding would not be a problem going forward. 

"We have got a commitment from the Honourable Minister of Finance to make payment, and I am very sure if we pay Julius Berger Plc according to the commitment on funding, it will complete the job."

The Minister also said; "We have issues of reviewing the contract sum and we will sort that out. We sent our technical team to re-examine the sub grade which  will be the basis of our redesign. Let me emphasis that this is the first project we are touring in this place and, Mr President in his Renewed Hope Agenda has expressed his deep concern on the completion of the project and he has directed that everything must be done to get the entire project completed."

On his part, the Hon. Minister of Finance assured of the unwavering commitment  of the Federal Government in the timely funding of the project in line with the agreed milestones. “Under the mandate of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, we are both here on inspection to hear the commitment of the contractor handling the projec and to support them, to as soon as possible complete this all important reconstruction of the Abuja- Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road.”

The Finance Minister described the works sector as one of the most strategic  sectors that will add value to the economic development agenda of Mr. President and would always be given  priority attention.

"We want to urge the contractor to do more. Infrastructure is a critical priority of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. That is how we can get food prices down. Through transportation and easy transportation of agricultural products, we want to move freely across the country. To bring down the prices and inflation, we will be doing more on the funding."

On the inspection team include directors from both Ministry of Works and Finance, Managing Director Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engr Dr Lars Richter who conducted the two ministers round the projects and several other stakeholders.