Since 2007, Dantata & Sawoe Ltd. had been under contract for Section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri road project, but the Federal Government has terminated that agreement.
According to the Minister of works, David Umahi, the termination was brought about by the contract’s expiration date. This underscores the government’s efforts to guarantee that enduring infrastructure projects are completed on schedule and at a reasonable cost.
The government also informed Bauchi Governor Bala Mohammed of quick involvement to rebuild a flood-damaged portion of the Kano-Maiduguri federal route within the State.
Following a significant downpour, floodwaters recently destroyed the road, cutting off the Malori-Guskuri community in Katagun Local Government Area and negatively affecting their way of life.
The Minister disclosed the government’s intention to review and amend the liability period for all federal projects in order to ensure longevity and the best possible value for public funds. This was stated during a performance review meeting with representatives from Dangote Group of Companies, BUA Group of Companies, and Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd. on August 9, 2024, in Abuja.
In a statement released on Saturday, the Minister’s Special Advisor on Media, Uchenna Orji, stated that the priority was to expedite the completion of crucial infrastructure projects, especially those financed by the Tax Credit Scheme. These projects included major roads that are essential to the country’s economy.
“Going forward, there will be a clear agreement on milestone completion timelines for ongoing projects under the Tax Credit Scheme.
“My position as the Minister of Works is that everybody must take responsibility. We will no longer fold our hands and allow the projects we have awarded and even reviewed to continue to linger,” he said.
The Minister said that the government would not stand for delays in finishing important infrastructure projects, and he emphasised the President’s commitment to lessening the suffering of Nigerians caused by bad road conditions.
“Nigerians are suffering on these roads, and President Bola Tinubu is doing everything possible, giving the road sector special attention. It would be a failure on our part to allow contractors to delay these projects while ignoring the people’s suffering,” he stressed.
Calling for increased dedication from all parties concerned, especially financing partners, the Minister urged Nigerians to stay patient, emphasizing the value of partnership and patriotism in supporting the President’s agenda for national development.
“We must all play our part to support the President’s divine vision to retake our country,” the Minister urged.
The Minister mentioned a number of current Tax Credit Scheme projects that have been delayed as a result of antiquated pricing mechanisms.
He mentioned the firms involved in the tax credit system with various projects around the country, including Dangote Group, BUA Group, Mainstream Energy Solutions, and MTN Nigeria, and stated that the affected projects are being reviewed to hasten their completion.
Dangote is responsible for the following projects: the 35-kilometer Apapa-Owonronshoki Motorway in Lagos State; the 38-kilometer section of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road dualisation; the 49.153-kilometer Bama-Banki road in Borno State; the construction of the Nnamdi Azikiwe road (western bypass) in Kaduna State; the reconstruction of the 105-kilometer Obelle-Ilaro-Papalanto-Shagamu Road dualisation; the 54.239-kilometer Deep Seaport in Lagos State; the 65.5-kilometer Afikpo-Okigwe road in Ebonyi
BUA: 20 km of roads in each of the three sections of the Lokoja-Benin Highway; 17.6 km of the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road (with an additional 3 km to be included at the Kano axis); 132.5 km of the Kano-Kongollam in the states of Kano, Jigawa, and Kastina; 130 km of the Bode Sadu – Kaiama road; 42 km of the Eyenkorin-Offa road; 73 km of the Lafiaji-Bacita road; and 37 km of the Okuta-Kenu road, all in Kwara State;
Mainstream: the 45.13 km Sabon Gari – Yuni – Auna Road in Magami LGA of Niger State; the 76.586 km Malando – Ngasike – Wara road in Kebbi State; and the asphalt overlay of the Mokwa – Nasarawa road in Niger State.
MTN – the dualization of 107km Enugu- Onitsha road.
The Minister assigned a technical team from the Ministry of Works to evaluate the damage caused by the floods in Bauchi State and suggest an urgent plan to restore access and lessen the suffering of the impacted people.
“It’s unfortunate that when a job is completed by contractors, we don’t even enjoy the road for five years before we’re back to square one. This is why I’ve been advocating against the one-year liability period; poorly executed jobs can last a year, but not five,” he said.
In order to ascertain the reason behind the road’s failure, he also gave Mothercart Ltd., the initial contractor for the damaged portion, instructions to join the evaluation team.
The Minister praised BUA for their work on the Lokoja-Benin Highway in Ekpoma and hailed Dangote Plc for their efforts on the Apapa-Oworonshoki Motorway, the Lekki-Deep Seaport route, and the Nnamdi Azikiwe road in Kaduna.
As the government works to expedite the completion of the critical infrastructure projects, Umahi urged Mainstream Energy Solutions to step up their respective efforts.
He also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to making sure Nigerians see a return on their investments and that the country’s roads are reliable and safe enough to support economic growth.
