AfriPulse
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has announced April 2026 as the deadline for the completion and commissioning of the Abuja–Lokoja highway, while the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano expressway is scheduled for completion by June 2026.
Umahi disclosed this on Saturday during an inspection tour of road projects in the North-Central zone.
He expressed dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work by the contractor but commended the quality of the section inspected.
The minister warned that contractors failing to meet the Federal Government’s timelines would have their jobs revoked and reassigned to more competent firms.
“We are going to agree on what you can finish within the next year and set milestone targets. If you complete from here to here, you get paid. Those who cannot meet up will have their jobs divided and given to those who can. This is an advance notice to start another gang,” he stated.
Umahi also said he would revisit the project sites in November, warning that continued delays would lead to termination of contracts.
“The quality of the job is excellent, but the pace of work is nonsense. You are performing even poorer on the Benin–Warri Road, but that is a matter for another inspection next week,” he added.
On the Abuja–Lokoja project, Umahi revealed that the ₦56 billion contract had been redesigned to use concrete pavement instead of asphalt, covering the entire 53 kilometers at no additional cost.
Speaking on the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano Road, the minister said the project, which is divided into three sections, would require an estimated ₦761 billion to complete.
He reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s directive that all Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL)-funded projects must continue, but only on merit.
Source: Guardian Nigeria | Read the Full Story…
