07/07/2024
The Nigerian Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has revoked the N870bn highway contracts awarded to three construction companies, namely Dantata & Sawoe, MotherCat, and RCC, for non-performance. The contracts for sections II, III, and IV of the dualisation of Obajana-Benin Road were terminated due to delays in completion. The contracts were initially reviewed at N121bn, but the cost was later put at N870bn at N2bn per kilometre. Umahi had warned of contract termination on April 25, and he issued an ultimatum to the contractors handling various road projects to sit up or lose their contracts. The action was taken after the completion of 330 emergency projects following an appropriation of N300bn by the Federal Government, reducing the number of uncompleted road projects from 2,600 to 2,270.
The Special Adviser on Media to the Minister, Uchenna Orji, announced the termination of the contracts on Monday, stating that the affected projects included the dualisation of Obajana – Benin road, section II (Okene – Auchi) in Kogi/Edo State; the dualisation of Obajana – Benin road, section III (Auchi – Ehor) in Edo State, and the dualisation of Obajana – Benin road, section IV (Ehor – Benin) in Edo State. The contractors were accused of inordinate delay, neglect, and failure to fulfill their contractual obligations, which exposed road users to untold hardship due to the deplorable condition of the projects.
The Nigerian Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has revoked the N870bn highway contracts awarded to three construction companies, namely Dantata & Sawoe, MotherCat, and RCC, for non-performance. The contracts for sections II, III, and IV of the dualisation of Obajana-Benin Road were terminated due to de...