NO VARIATION ON 30% MOBILIZATION ADVANCED TO CONTRACTORS..... UMAHI
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Senator David Umahi |
Nigeria's Minister of Works, Senator Engr David Nweze Umahi, in continuation of his inspection tour of federal government projects across the country, has visited the Northwest zone to inspect ongoing road construction sites in Zamfara, Sokoto, Katsina and Kaduna states.
Umahi, who also used the inspection tour to see for himself, the BUA Cement facility in Sokoto state, disclosed that “Mr. President has not stopped the dualization of Zaria-Gusau-Sokoto highway rather, the projects will be completed and the design would even be improved upon.”
The Honourable Minister of Works, David Umahi has debunked rumors that Mr. President has stopped the Zaria-Sokoto-Gusau road project which is been handled by Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL.
Umahi stated that the project, though is managed under the NNPCL tax credit; that is not the truth at all. "In fact, he has given more life to the tax credit of NNPCL.”
He added that, “though the NNPCL projects are not funded by NNPC 100 percent, we still have funding gap of over N2.7 trillion to get them completed”.
Umahi made this known when he paid a courtesy call on the Governor of Zamfara State, Dauda Lawal at the Government House, Gusau.
Affirming the position of the Federal Government, he said “Mr. President has approved that we should take the funding gap to the National Assembly for approval. So, it's not just committed to the commitment of NNPC, but it's committed to the entire completion of the projects.
Continuing, he said “he is the one that has asked us to visit this project, just like other ones, they are very important and key to Mr. President.
Commending the contractor handling the Sokoto - Gusau road, Sen. Umahi said “we have not seen everything they are doing, but the little we've seen is excellent. in fact, that project, the neatness and quality looks excellent”.
Explaining delay in the progress of work, Sen. Umahi disclosed that, “my directive was what slowed down the job. But I have redirected having come and examined the projects.” He reassured his audience.
On the issue of payment of compensation to those affected by the duslisation of the roads, the Honourable Minister called on the relevant State Government to follow the commitment of Sokoto State which has agreed to settle all payments regarding compensation to the people concerned.
Meanwhile, the Honourable Minister while speaking to some journalists along the Gusau - Funtua Road, after inspecting the ongoing work by Setraco, warned contractors that there would be no variation on 30% mobilisation advanced to them.
According to him “the contractors must know that I will never pay variation on mobilized funds or works that are delayed.”
“Because if we do not obey the timetable, inflection, time will catch up with us.”
Stressing “it's the Federal Government that is losing. That's why if we have little money to complete the project and we prolong it, then the Federal Government is unable to further source for funds”, he reasoned.
During his remarks, the Governor of Zamfara State, praised the vision of President Bola Tinubu for the road sector, noting the commitment of the Honourable Minister has truly helped to realize Mr. President’s goals.
He expressed his joy about the news that the construction of the Zaria - Gusau - Sokoto was still on course.
He therefore pledged the support of his administration to the Federal Government, while requesting Sen. Umahi to look into the rehabilitation of Gusau-Dansadau road.
Sen. David Umahi was accompanied to the Government House by former Governor of Sokoto State, now Senator representing Sokoto Central Senatorial Zone, Aminu Tambuwal and other senior government officials.
A statement signed by the Director of Information, Mr. Olusola Abiola stated.
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