FG Threatens Road Contractor Over 1% Progress After ₦10bn Mobilisation

 

Bello Muhammad Goronyo Esq 
Minister of State Works

"The level of work achieved was unacceptable, particularly as the project, valued at approximately ₦90 billion, was expected to have attained nearly 16 per cent completion at this stage." Goronyo 

.... Says "the 71.9-kilometre project, which has a 36-month completion period, has already consumed almost six months without commensurate progress."

The Federal Government has expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work on the Maje–Jazu Section II road project in Niger State, revealing that the contractor, CCECC Nigeria Limited, has received more than ₦10 billion in mobilisation but completed only about one per cent of the project.

The Minister of State for Works, Rt. Hon. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, expressed the concern on Thursday during an inspection of critical sections of the Bida–Lapai–Lambata and Maje–Dikko road corridors in Niger State.

Goronyo said the level of work achieved was unacceptable, particularly as the project, valued at approximately ₦90 billion, was expected to have attained nearly 16 per cent completion at this stage.

According to him, the 71.9-kilometre project, which has a 36-month completion period, has already consumed almost six months without commensurate progress.

“The amount so far released to you as mobilisation is over ₦10 billion. Yet, the progress of work on site is not commensurate with the amount that has been advanced to you. The percentage of work completed is not even up to one per cent, whereas, according to the project schedule, you are expected to have achieved almost 16 per cent at this stage,” the minister said.

He directed CCECC to immediately increase its mobilisation of equipment, machinery, materials and manpower, insisting that Nigerians deserved better roads.

Goronyo also disclosed that the Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, had been briefed on the situation and shared the concern over the contractor's performance.

He rejected the contractor's explanation that prolonged traffic congestion caused by articulated vehicles between June and August had hampered construction activities.

“You have told us that the gridlock caused by articulated vehicles between June and August affected your operations. But this contract was awarded in February. What were you doing from February to June? That explanation is not acceptable,” he said.

The contractor, however, assured the minister that it had the capacity and resources to accelerate the project, indicating that it expected to complete between nine and 10 kilometres by March next year.

Goronyo said such output would still be inadequate considering the overall length of the road and directed the contractor to intensify work.

Meanwhile, the minister said the Federal Government would intensify intervention on the approximately 123.4-kilometre Bida–Lapai–Lambata road, an inherited project being financed under the Presidential/NNPC Tax Credit arrangement.

He sympathised with motorists, particularly truck operators, over the prolonged difficulties experienced along the corridor, describing the route as an important economic artery for the movement of agricultural produce, goods and people.

He directed the immediate mobilisation of the contractor for palliative works to restore motorability while permanent reconstruction progresses.

“We deeply sympathise with the drivers and other road users. This is a very important economic corridor, and we cannot allow it to fail completely,” Goronyo said.

At the Maje–Dikko section, the minister expressed satisfaction with improvements recorded following an earlier government directive for urgent intervention.

He, however, ordered the contractor, Trunkroad Consortium Nigeria Limited, to mobilise additional equipment and materials and sustain round-the-clock operations at critical locations.

Goronyo recalled that the contractor had been given a 48-hour directive to restore passability on affected sections.

The company's Managing Director, Isaac Abeka, said the directive led to the deployment of additional personnel, equipment and materials, resulting in a significant reduction in the gridlock.

He said failed sections had been backfilled with stones, rocks and boulders, followed by the application and grading of stone-base materials, while drainage channels were opened to improve water flow away from the roadway.

At the Lambata–Lapai corridor, the Director of Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. David Yiltong Dechi, said the contractor handling the permanent rehabilitation and reconstruction had indicated its readiness to mobilise.

He, however, recommended immediate palliative measures because extensive earthworks during the rainy season could worsen some sections of the road.

The recommended measures include deployment of boulders, stone-base materials, graders and bulldozers at critical locations to maintain motorability pending favourable weather conditions for permanent works.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Transportation, Prince Adetokunbo Ademola, commended the Federal Ministry of Works and other stakeholders for implementing the President's directive and physically monitoring the corridor.

Also speaking, the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Mallam Shehu Mohammed, sympathised with motorists and urged truck owners and drivers to avoid overloading, noting its implications for road safety, vehicles and pavement durability.

The President of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, Alhaji Yusuf Lawal Othman, welcomed the intervention and appealed to motorists to remain patient as government and contractors work to restore the affected routes.

The Federal Ministry of Works reiterated its commitment to continuous monitoring of the corridors and directed contractors to sustain the pace of work until critical sections are safely and effectively motorable.