Federal Ministry of Works Cracks Down on Underperforming Contractors in Niger State

Federal Ministry of Works Cracks Down on Underperforming Contractors in Niger State

In a bold move to ensure timely completion of federal road projects, the Federal Ministry of Works has issued stern warnings to contractors in Niger State. At a recent stakeholders’ meeting, the Ministry expressed disappointment over the poor performance of some contractors despite receiving advance payments.

Resolutions Made:

Termination of Contracts: Salini Nig. Ltd’s contracts will be terminated due to lack of capacity and sub-standard jobs.
Provision of Funds: Funds will be allocated for GR Building and Construction Nig. Ltd’s project through the 2025 appropriation.
Commencement of Work: Contractors were advised to start work immediately, particularly on the critical Agaie-Bida stretch.
Warning Letters: Contractors with delayed projects will receive warning letters, and Variation on Price cannot be availed as requested.
Engineering Design: The Niger State Government was requested to recommend consultants for road engineering design and supervision.

This meeting sets the pace for addressing inherited ongoing projects across the country. The Ministry is committed to ensuring all federal road projects meet required standards and timelines ¹.

The Honourable Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, has been proactive in addressing road infrastructure challenges. Recently, he held a town hall meeting in Ondo State to discuss the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway project ¹.

The Federal Ministry of Works aims to build the backbone for development in Nigeria, and this crackdown on underperforming contractors is a step in the right direction.

EXCERPT

Yesterday, I held a meeting with the stakeholders from Niger State, including contractors, to discuss the progress of ongoing federal road projects in the state. I expressed disappointment over the attitude of some contractors who have failed to deliver on their projects despite receiving advance payments. I warned that contractors who delay or do sub-standard jobs will face consequences.
The 10 inherited ongoing federal road projects in Niger State were listed, and resolutions were made for each project, including termination of contracts, provision of funds, and commencement of work. The meeting was a pace-setting initiative for all inherited ongoing projects in each state of the federation.
I am committed to ensuring that all ongoing federal road projects are completed on time and to the required standards. I will continue to work with stakeholders to address any challenges and ensure that contractors deliver on their projects. The Federal Ministry of Works is committed to building the backbone for development in Nigeria.
We resolved as follows in the meeting:
– Termination of contracts: Contracts handled by Salini Nig. Ltd will be terminated due to lack of capacity and sub-standard jobs.
– Provision of funds: Funds will be provided for the project handled by GR Building and Construction Nig. Ltd through the 2025 appropriation.
– Commencement of work: Contractors were advised to commence work immediately, especially on the stretch between Agaie and Bida, which is reportedly a death trap.
– Warning letters: Warning letters will be given to contractors who have delayed their work, and Variation on Price cannot be availed as requested.
– Engineering design: The Niger State Government was requested to recommend consultants to the Ministry to carry out the engineering design of the road following due process and subsequent supervision of the works.
I believe that with these resolutions, we can ensure that all ongoing federal road projects in Niger State are completed on time and to the required standards.