By Jabiru Hassan
The Federal Ministry of Works has directed contractors handling 10 ongoing federal road projects in Niger State to resume work immediately and ensure high-quality and timely delivery or face contract termination.
At a meeting held on November 15, 2024, in Minna, key stakeholders, including the Governor of Niger State, His Excellency Farmer Mohammed Umar Bago, the Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, and the Honourable Minister of State for Works, Hon. Barr. Bello Muhammad Goronyo, were in attendance. Others present included National Assembly members from Niger State, such as Senate Committee Chairman on Finance, Sen. Mohammed Sani Musa, CON, and various stakeholders.
The Honourable Minister of Works expressed dissatisfaction with the performance of some contractors who had received significant advance payments but failed to deliver. He noted the severe impact of delayed or substandard projects on road users, emphasizing that the current administration prioritizes speed, quality, and value for money in infrastructure projects. Contractors unable to meet these standards were warned of the consequences, including contract termination.
The 10 projects under review include the Agaje-Katcha-Baro Road, dualization of Suleja-Lambata-Minna Road (Phases I and II), dualization of Ilorin-Jebba-Mokwa-Bokani Junction Road (Sections I and II), reconstruction of Bida-Lapai-Lambata Road, rehabilitation of Mokwa-Makera-Tegina-Kaduna Road, rehabilitation of Minna-Zungeru-Tegina-Kontagora Road (Section 2), construction of Minna-Zungeru-Tegina Road, and reconstruction of Bida-Cernu-Wushishi-Zungeru Road (Phase I).
During the meeting, Governor Mohammed Umar Bago expressed disappointment with the lack of progress on several projects, citing their negative impact on the state’s socio-economic and security conditions. He particularly criticized Salini Nigeria Ltd for failing to deliver on contracts awarded since 2010 and called for their termination.
In response to the situation, resolutions were made to address specific projects. GR Building and Construction Nig. Ltd was commended for their progress, and provisions for additional funding in the 2025 budget were proposed to accelerate completion. Salini Nigeria Ltd faced unanimous calls for contract termination due to poor performance, with a committee set up to oversee the process.
CGC Nig. Ltd was recognized for their contributions, including corporate social responsibility efforts, but advised to address deficiencies and expedite work on critical sections. Gilmor Engineering Nig. Ltd was criticized for delays attributed to security challenges and was warned to improve their pace of work. Develeco Nig. Ltd/HMF Construction Ltd had their contract scope revised after the Niger State Government took over a portion of the project. Gerawa Global Engineering Ltd was advised to deploy additional teams to speed up project completion.
The meeting concluded with the establishment of a feedback mechanism to monitor progress. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for January 2025 to evaluate the contractors’ performance and ensure accountability. The session was hailed as a significant step in addressing Nigeria’s road infrastructure challenges and promoting efficiency in project execution.
