By Yusuf Olukokun
Dave Umahi, the Minister of Works, has come out hard on big construction companies handling Federal Government’s projects in the country, including Julius Berger, Raynolds Construction and China Civil Engineering and Construction; to mobilize workers to construction sites or face termination of their contracts.
On Saturday, the Minister disclosed this during the engagement with some stakeholders regarding the alignment 3b and 4 of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal highway, which was held at Ibom Hall in Uyo, Akwa-ibom state.
Umahi stated that the notices given by the federal government expire, any construction company who failed to do the work given would face contract termination.
He furtherly expressed his disappointment over the dribbling-excuse tactics of construction companies for not mobilizing workers to site because no compensation been was paid by the Akwa-ibom state government.
The Minister strongly asserted that the Akwa-ibom state government have paid the compensation part of Calabar-itu road and the President Tinubu has also done his funding responsibility.
He said, “Mr President has given enough money to fund the projects. The same thing with Julius Berger, by the end of this coming week, if Julius Berger fails to remobilize to the site and the ECECC fails to mobilize to at least 3 sections of the road, the jobs will be terminated.
“The worst of the road in the entire South-South remains this Akwa Ibom to Cross River through Itu and Odukpani and also the section that is being done by RCC. RCC had collected over N40bn on that road 15 kilometres of roads, N156bn inherited from the past administration, they are playing tricks. We have been on them to change their mindset, and by the end of next week, our 14 days notice of termination of the contract will elapse, and we will terminate the projects and give to those who have mastery of laying concrete.”
