…says work will resume on Abuja-Kano road this week

The Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi said the present administration of President Bola Tinubu inherited about 2,600 road projects from the last administration of Muhammadu Buhari totaling N600 trillions.

He made this revelation at a meeting with contractors on Tuesday at the Conference Hall of the Ministry of Works, Mabushi, Abuja.

Senator Umahi who reeled out so many achievements of the Ministry disclosed that work will commence on the Abuja-Kano road this week while commending the contractor, Julius Berger for the good jobs they are doing.

His words, “We are committed to innovative ways of doing things. We have achieved a lot. We have completed 80% of the projects. We have also completed the Lagos-Sagamu bridge. We and Julius Berger have settled our differences and work will commence on the Abuja-Kano road this week.

“…We cannot continue to do things the same way, we have to adopt a new way of doing things. We offer contractors work based on what is approved to us as a ministry. We don’t want to owe and because of that, we are offering what we have,” he said.

The former governor however clarified on speculations making the rounds that the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway has been stopped, he simply said, “We have cut down the Lagos-Calabar road to six lanes. Over 4km have been completed. The work is ongoing, and we want to commend the contractor for his efforts thus far. Meanwhile, the design is almost completed.”

On the Murtala Muhammed bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge that were vandalized, the Minister expressed his disappointment on the level of patriotism of some citizens including the security outfits that were contracted to monitor the facilities. He said, ” Some people are not patriotic. The Murtala Muhammed bridge and the Third Mainland Bridge have been fixed. They were fixed between 24 and 72 hours respectively.”

Engr. Umahi however warned contractors who are in the habit of charging the federal government so high and even delay the works given to them. He claimed that the same contractors charge the state governments lower and complete their jobs on time. He said, “Some of you have been on the road construction for 18 years. No partial handover. If you don’t finish on time, you will continue to maintain the road until it is completed.”

He continued, “If we don’t have money to pay you and you can’t continue, we can have mutual understanding and terminate the contract.”

The Minister however concluded by saying that road projects are investments and many of them will attract counterparts funding. He said when the roads are completed and tolled, money will be recovered within a few years of their completion.

The briefing is part of the activity lined up to reel out the achievements of the administration of President Bola Tinubu in the last one year of its existence even though the Minister assumed office on August 28, 2024.