David Umahi, Minister of Works, has stated that its ministry had terminated several road contracts nationally owing to delays in completion and implementation.
Although Umahi could not identify which projects were affected, he verified that appropriate procedure was followed throughout the terminations, many of which had been underway for more than 20 years.
Speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Monday, Umahi also urged Hon. Remi Oseni, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to participate in an open debate over statements implying that the minister has failed in his duty.
He justified his track record by claiming that his ministry is presently in charge of about 3,000 road projects nationwide.
“We have terminated over 10 projects, adhering to due process. Some of these contracts have been in existence for 17, 18, or even 20 years. We are making significant progress,” he said.
Umahi said that N19 trillion would be needed to finish all ongoing road construction, adding that the present administration inherited 2,600 projects and 330 supplemental ones.
Regarding the highway project between Abuja, Kaduna, and Kano, he stated that Julius Berger had till Wednesday to accept the government’s proposal or risk having his contract terminated.
“We have given Berger a seven-day ultimatum, which ends on Wednesday, to return to the site based on conditions that will prevent any delays.
“We have been negotiating for 14 months, and if they are not back on site by then, we will issue a notice of termination and proceed with selective tendering to engage no fewer than three contractors,” he said.