Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi, has expressed sadness over the slow pace of work on the 107 km Enugu-Onitsha Highway being handled by RCC and Nigercat construction companies.
Umahi stated that the federal government’s review of the performance of all inherited ongoing and new road projects nationwide is part of efforts to alleviate the suffering of road users.
This directive came during a crucial meeting with MTN, which is funding the construction of the Enugu-Onitsha road dualization under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
The meeting, held at the Ministry’s Headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, involved representatives from the Enugu State government and the two contractors handling the project under the Tax Credit scheme—RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd.
A statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, and made available to DAILY POST, highlighted Umahi’s concerns.
The Minister, while recalling that the Enugu-Onitsha dual carriageway is funded by MTN under the Tax Credit Scheme, expressed disappointment over the condition of the road under construction. He attributed the suffering of road users to a lack of commitment and sheer insensitivity from the contractors.
He said, “MTN has engaged two subcontractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd. During my supervision of the project, I discovered that the binder course laid by Nigercat had failed. I directed that the binder course must be scarified and reinstated, as I knew it was inherited.
“I want to believe that it has been done,” he stated.
He continued, “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 diversions; the contractors have not even laid stones at the diversion points. As part of our Operation Free Our Roads, it is now a violation of policy by the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works if vehicles fall on any ongoing project or if there are potholes on our roads.”
“Last Sunday, I inspected that road with the Governor of Enugu State and saw the level of suffering at the Abakpa section where RCC Ltd was laying binder. About 3.5 km of the road was blocked, forcing everyone to use one carriageway, which is not even maintained.”
He lauded the Enugu State Government for their commitment to fund the construction of the 20 km Abakpa Junction to Akama (9th Mile) section of the Enugu-Onitsha road with rigid pavement and the construction of a flyover bridge at Abakpa Junction, to be refunded through MTN Tax Credit.
He expressed hope that MTN would continue with the construction of the second phase of the 107 km dualization project.
Umahi added, “The Enugu State Government is intervening because of the slow pace of work by the contractors and funding issues. The essence of the tax credit is to ensure funds are made available. Therefore, I do not see RCC keeping their promise to complete this project in six months. My advice to MTN is to consider finding another contractor in that area if they want the job done efficiently.”
He warned that contractors delaying projects are on their own, as the Federal Government, as a matter of policy, will not accept phased handovers of projects and has phased out VOP (Variation of Price) in contract administration.
Maintaining that contractors must adhere to the Renewed Hope agenda, Umahi stressed that they must maintain all roads they handle until fully completed and handed over to the Federal Government.
“It is better to get it finished. As a policy, we are not accepting phased handovers. You must complete your job before inspection. If it takes 10 years to finish your job, it is your responsibility to maintain the work that is failing,” he concluded.