Minister of Works Warns Contractor to Speed Up East-West Road Project or Face Termination
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a stern warning to the contractor of the East-West Road, Section III (Eleme Junction – Onne Junction), Reynolds Construction Company, demanding that they deploy more resources to accelerate the pace of work. Failure to comply, he said, could result in either a re-scoping or termination of the contract.
Umahi, who made this declaration on Wednesday during an inspection of the ongoing project, reminded the contractor that it had until the end of April 2025 to complete a section of the carriageway.
A statement from the Ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Mohammed Ahmed, revealed that Umahi’s inspection tour began with Section III of the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway (Umuahia – Aba). This was part of a broader assessment of road projects in the Southeast and South-South geopolitical zones.
“The ministry will not tolerate delays. Any contractor who fails to meet their contractual obligations will face the consequences, including a 14-day notice of contract termination,” the minister warned.
Umahi also expressed his dissatisfaction with the pace of work on Section IV (Aba – Port Harcourt) of the same project, which is being handled by China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). The minister pointed out that only N7 billion out of the N21 billion allocated to the project in the previous year has been accessed, signaling a significant delay.
To address the slow progress, Umahi instructed the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State to issue a warning to the CCECC contractor, stressing that further inaction would lead to the termination of the contract.
On a more positive note, the minister commended the efforts of Messrs Arab Contractors (Nigeria) Ltd. for the quality of work on their section of the project. However, he urged them to deploy additional manpower and resources to expedite the construction and meet the project deadlines.
Umahi also inspected the Bodo-Bonny Road project, a critical infrastructure development in the South-South region. He expressed his dissatisfaction with the level of work achieved so far and instructed the contractor, Messrs Julius Berger (Nigeria) Plc, to scale up the deployment of men, materials, and machinery, despite the work continuing through the holiday period.
The Bodo-Bonny Road, which is vital for the development of Bonny Island, includes the construction of a two-lane road with hard shoulders, 17 bridges, and reinforced concrete pavement. The project aims to improve regional connectivity and promote socio-economic growth.
Throughout his inspection, the minister emphasized the urgency of meeting project deadlines. He reminded contractors that delays would no longer be tolerated, as they hinder the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure and stimulate national development under the “Renewed Hope Agenda.”
To further enforce this directive, Umahi instructed Federal Controllers of Works across the country to deliver at least four completed projects for inauguration between February and May 2025. “The expectation is that every controller meets their mandates according to specifications and timelines. There will be no further room for delays,” he declared.
Umahi also reassured Nigerians that despite the challenges, President Bola Tinubu remains committed to the completion of both inherited and new infrastructure projects. He made it clear that any delays in project delivery were the result of contractor inefficiency, not a lack of political will.
“The President has not abandoned these projects. It is the contractors who have delayed the work. This year, we will be stricter in ensuring projects are completed on time,” Umahi concluded.
In 2024, the Minister of Works terminated 10 stalled projects that had been in limbo for over 17 years, signaling a firm stance on underperformance in the construction sector.
