Umahi stated this at a meeting he held with MTN, the Enugu State Government and representatives of the contractors: messers RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd, at the Ministry’s Headquarters, Abuja.
This was contained in a statement signed by his Special Adviser (Media), Hon. Orji Uchenna Orji.
Orji quoted the Minister as directing the contractors handling the project to brace up for the implementation of the policies of the Renewed Hope administration concerning speed and quality of work, commitment to project execution and care for the comfort of road users.
According to him, this can be achieved when contractors maintain one carriageway of the dual carriageway under construction to mitigate the sufferings of road users.
Funds for the project are being provided by MTN under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
Umahi said, “The MTN has engaged the subcontractors, two subcontractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd. The first time I supervised that project, I discovered that the Nigercat section where we have a binder course had failed.
“I directed that the binder course must be sacrificed and reinstated, and I knew it was inherited. I want to believe that it has been done.
“Let me express my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It’s one of the worst roads in this country. Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and the Nigercat had completed, the contractors are not kind enough to even put a stone on the diversion points.
“So, by the reason of the launching of our Operation Free our Roads, it is now a violation of the policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project that is ongoing or where there are potholes on our roads.”
He, however, expressed gratitude to the government of Enugu State for their resolve to fund the construction of the 20km Abakpa junction to Akama (9th Mile) section of Enugu – Onitsha road on rigid pavement and the construction of a flyover bridge at Abakpa junction to be refunded through MTN Tax Credit.
Umahi expressed hope that MTN would still execute the construction of the second phase of the 107km x 2 road dualization.
He warned that contractors delaying jobs are on their own as the Federal Government, as a matter of policy, would not accept a phased handover of projects and has phased out VOP in contract administration.
The minister reiterated that the contractors must, in line with the Renewed Hope agenda, maintain all roads handled by them until they are fully completed and handed over to the Federal Government.
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