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Wike threatens to kick out non-performing contractors in FCT

By Philip Yatai

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr Nyesom Wike, has threatened to kick out non-performing contractors executing projects in the FCT.

Wike made the threat in Abuja on Friday, after inspecting the ongoing construction of the 15-kilometre left wing service lane of the Outer Southern Expressway, from Ring Road 1 to Wasa.

The threat followed what the minister described as “disappointing performance” of CGC Nigeria Ltd executing the project, saying “it is barely 50 per cent as against CGC’s 75 per cent claim.

“As at last year, you promised you would finish the project by December 2024 or at most January 2025, now you have extended it to May.

“With what I am seeing, it may not be possible till eight or nine months from now.

“You should be fair to us. If we have an agreement, let’s keep to that agreement and we are paying. Why should we see what we are seeing now? He asked.

The minister said that FCT Administration had paid over 80 per cent of the contract sum, “but look at what they have done. This is very bad. I am not encouraged.

“We have paid the contractor more than 80 per cent of this contract and the job, as far as I am concerned, is not up to 50 per cent. I am not going to accept this.”

On what he would do to non-performing contractors, Wike said: “We don’t have any relationship with non-performing contractors. Everybody knows our position that if you don’t perform, we kick you out.

“There is no sentiment about it. Whether you are an indigenous contractor; whether you are foreign contractors; we don’t care. All we are concerned about is the work.

“If you do the work; we go along with you, if you don’t do the work; we kick you out and we will make you pay for it; there must be sanctions.

“You can’t just collect our money, and we just say go, when you do not complete our project, no.

“Before we kick you out, we will make you pay for it. That is our position.”

He explained that his attention was drawn to the project when he inspected the Apo to Karshi road on Thursday and passed through Wasa on his way back.

He explained that the inspection was to see things for himself.

“There was no equipment here yesterday, when I passed through the road.

“I believe it is because I said I was coming here today that you mobilised equipment. These are things I will not accept.

“CGC is one of the most respected construction companies in the country, but as far as this road is concerned, I am not happy,” he groaned.

The minister directed the Director Engineering Services, Federal Capital Development Authority to sit with the contractor, agree on a work plan, and commit to a completion timeline.

Wike said that the work plan described the road as important considering the huge economic activities taking place in the area.

He directed that the project delivery work plan should be on his table on Monday, pointing out that the road, if completed, would significantly reduce traffic congestion in the area. (NAN)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru

General News

FG tasks contractors to ensure quality works

By Olaide Ayinde

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi has urged contractors handling Federal Government’s projects to ensure quality work to fast track sustainable infrastructure development in the country.

Umahi stated this during an inspection of the failed sections of Kano-Maiduguri expressway, on Thursday in Azare, Bauchi State.

He said the federal government would redesigned the project to provide quality and durable road.

“We will redesign the project, and work will start immediately,

“We will provide five relief culverts and put retaining walls on both sides with an 8 inch concrete and nothing will happen when we finish it,” he said.

The minister lamented that the stone base used on the road was not good, warning that the ministry would not condone poor work by contractors.

“No contractor is allowed to do bad work for the federal government. We will not accept bad work.

“The ministry of works should be very careful in the supervision of work,” he said.

Umahi inspects Kano-Maiduguri expressway cut-off by flood in Azare, Bauchi State

According to Umahi, the federal government is terminating contract for the Section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri expressway between Kano and Dutse.

The project, he said, has been awarded in the last 17 years without completion.

Umahi further said that President Bola Tinubu directed him to inspect failed sections of the road cut-off by flood in Bauchi and Jigawa.

“We are here to make sure that the roads are completely rehabilitated, and we have brought new designs that will tackle the problems once and for all.

“The president is very committed to solving most of the plight of the people, especially as regards to roads because he knows the economic importance of the roads to the economic growth in the country, especially in the Northeast,” he said.

He commended Gov. Bala Mohammed for the palliative work on the road, designed to provide access road and ease movement of goods and services.

Bauchi

Umahi inspects Kano-Bauchi road cut-off by flood in Balbaldu, Jigawa

Also speaking, Mohammed lauded President Tinubu for the prompt intervention to repair the roads.

The governor pledged continued support to the federal government’s policies and programmes.

On his part, Mr Bashir Adamu, the Federal Controller of Works, Bauchi State, said the flood cut-off sections of the roads in different locations of the Kano-Maidiguri expressway.

He listed the affected sections to include Jama’are-Azare; Azare-Shira-Yana, Azare-Misau, and Bauchi-Ningi-Babaldu.

“The contractor Messrs Mothercat Nigeria Ltd, who constructed the road initially and handed over on Aug. 18, 2023, who happened to be in Azare town has already provided accesss road on one lane.

“The road is memorable and open to traffic,” he said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Rabiu Sani-Ali

Sen. Dave Umahi, Minister of Works
General News

Umahi issues 14 days ultimatum to contractors to return to site

 

By Perpetua Onuegbu

The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, has given contractors constructing federal highways 14 days to mobilise their personnel and equipment back to site or risk lossing their contracts.

 

The minister gave this warning during a meeting with all contractors handling federal roads on Wednesday in Abuja.

 

He warned that any contractor who fails to comply with the directive and meet up with the deadline would be kicked out and replaced with other contractors.

 

Umahi also told the contractors to desist from frustrating the plan of government to move on with the plan to use concrete technology rather than asphalt.

 

Stressing the need for concrete roads, he said Mr President did a concrete road in Lagos.

 

“He reminded me about this yesterday. I believe Nigerians will support us on the fact that when you do this asphalt there should be a guarantee on it.

 

“We have discussed the construction equipment and  directed that at least every 30 kilometres, there should be minimum of equipment of eight dossier.

 

“Two graders, four excavators, 20 trailers and other construction equipment in line with active site works operations. Nigerians should have one road that is very good,” Umahi said.

 

He added that ongoing plan to use concrete cannot be stopped unless he is removed from the office as a minister.

 

He vowed to clampdown on contractors cheating the Federal Government and Nigerians on the thickness of asphalt, denying them value for money.

 

“You contractors cheat us on the thickness of asphalt. The bitumen imported are of bad quality and then you start putting enhancer and modifier. We do not want that again, there is no such thing overseas. Use the type of asphalt used abroad.

 

“I believe I have called enough meetings on this issue and we must move forward. Let me advise contractors that are meeting and have ganged up. We have learnt that some of you want to sabotage me to prove that concrete is not good.

 

“That is a lie, concrete is very good. Go to Lagos sea port and see what the contractor is doing. Go to my state to see what I did. The roads are still there and very good on concrete.

 

“It is not useful to you because there is no meeting that wil make us back down on the principles and policy of the Ministry of Works. This policy has been set in motion and will only stop if I am removed from office by Mr President.

 

“Even this morning, the directors met and increased the price and I accepted it. The price is only for Trunk A. Trunk B and C will not enjoy that price because it is going to be on a different design,” he said.

 

He therefore urged contractors to stop harassing him with the price quotations saying that the Federal Government had set the price and would not go back on it.

 

The minister who accused some contractors of sabotaging his efforts to prove that concrete roads is bad to justify asphalt, further directed that any contractor with four projects would no longer be eligible to bid for any advertised jobs.

 

“Henceforth, any company that has four projects with the ministry of works will not get another project until it finishes the one awarded. Mr President just approved 60 projects and we will start the designing and the profiling.

 

“So if you can finish your jobs quickly, you will be part of the bidding but if you cannot finish your job, you cannot bid and we would not differentiate between expatriate and local contractors.

 

“The house must submit to the new policy of the Federal Ministry of Works,” he said.

 

Speaking further, the minister said asphalt roads would enjoy only five per cent variations.

 

“Also, let me announce that we are going to deploy strict measures. Every contractor going back to the site must give us a programme of work.

 

“The ministry would not process your certificate without a programme of work. Contractors that want variation of price must prove what basis led to an increase in contract quantity. Without these steps, there is no payment.

 

“Condition number two for the use of asphalt is the five per cent variation on price and if you have exhausted your 5 per cent already, You cannot enjoy another five per cent.

 

“Inflation on asphalt work is on geometric progression. Price is increasing every day and there is no money to pay for these increases,” Umahi said.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Julius Toba-Jegede

Economy/Business

Zonal Intervention Projects: No contractor is being owed by SMEDAN – D-G

By Emmanuella Anokam

The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says there is no contractor being owed by the agency after executing the Zonal Intervention Programmes otherwise called Constituency Projects nationwide.

Dr Dikko Radda,  Director-General, SMEDAN made this known on Wednesday in Abuja at a roundtable meeting with the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was organised by the Transparency Advocacy for Development Initiative (TADI).

The aim was to assess the performances of Small and Medium Enterprise and Engendering Understanding/Cooperation for Optimum Output in Nigeria.

It was also aimed at letting the CSOs understand SMEDAN’s activities and clarify misconceptions on the roles of SMEDAN, vis-a-vis the Zonal Intervention Programmes and rural empowerment projects.

Radda said the programmes were being executed by the agency on behalf of the National Assembly Members across the country.

He further noted that the agency was executing and monitoring the project in collaboration with Ministry of Special Duties of which it received clearance from before any payment.

”Since I assumed office in 2016, there is no contractor who is being owed after executing the project unless there are issues which is not our fault but that of the contractor.

“We do not owe any contractor because we do not award any contract which we do not have availability of the fund in our account, if you give us 50 per cent, we award 50 per cent,’’ he said.

Radda said the meeting was apt because the agency was gradually rounding up the 2020 programme and also preparing to begin activities for the 2021 capital and zonal intervention projects, as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said it was pertinent to understand that the National Assembly members were at liberty to domicile their constituency projects in any government organisation or agency they desired.

According to him, they also reserve the right to confirm the satisfactory completion or otherwise of the project before payments are made by the agency.

“Let me state categorically that all projects domiciled with the agency are usually executed fully before payments are effected.

“The agency has several levels of monitoring and evaluating all projects and this makes it impossible to get paid for projects not executed. Very impossible.

“I will like to state it very categorical and clear, there is no fear or contradiction since March 2016 when I came to SMEDAN, I have never begged any member of the National Assembly to bring his zonal intervention to SMEDAN,” he said.

As the agency for the sustainable development of MSMEs, he said SMEDAN had ensured frequent deployment of skilled personnel in the implementation of either its capital programmes or zonal intervention programmes.

Prior to this engagement, he said the agency had been inundated with requests for information and petitions bordering on capital expenditures and execution of constituency projects.

“It is unfortunate that often times, unconfirmed negative and damaging information are released to the media without proper investigation.

“In view of the foregoing, we deemed it necessary to hold periodic interactive session. Our doors are wide open for periodic clarifications on any issue that some of you are in doubt,” he noted.

Earlier, Amb. Yomi Daniel, Executive Director, TADI said the visit was prompted by speculations in the society about SMEDAN’s activities, hence it decided to engage other CSOs by organising the roundtable to tackle it.

Daniel said his organisation had an interface with SMEDAN, and was able to get things right and decided to interact with other CSOs and media to pass the message properly in the society.

“In that vein, we believe by bridging the bridge within the masses and the government will be a productive one, so as to avert crises and unwanted stories in the media,” he said.

Mr Mike Femi, President, Advocacy for Peace and Transparency Initiative, lauded the management of SMEDAN on its efforts in executing many projects across the country.

Femi explained that his organisation was focused on having interaction with government organisations on its activities to inform the public rightly especially on a politically motivated rumour.

Femi, while urging SMEDAN to embark on more campaigns and advocacy to sensitise public on its relevance to Nigeria, added that it should also be right for the public to know the channels for accessing its programmes.

The highlight of the event was the award of Certificate of Credence to the SMEDAN Chief Executive Officer by the CSOs. (NAN)