Alleged non-performance: FG terminates road contracts of three companies

The Federal Ministry of Works has terminated contract numbers 6,136, 6,137 and 6,138 with Mothercat Ltd, Dantata & Sawoe Construction Ltd and RCC Ltd, respectively.

The projects affected by the termination are the dualization of Obajana – Benin road, section II (Okene – Auchi) in Kogi/Edo State; the dualization of Obajana – Benin road, section III (Auchi – Ehor) in Edo State and the dualization of Obajana – Benin road section IV (Ehor – Benin) in Edo State.

This is contained in a statement released by Orji Uchenna Orji, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works on Monday and made available to DAILY POST.

According to the statement, the termination became necessary in view of the alleged inordinate delay by the affected companies in job performance and their failure, neglect and refusal to fulfill their contractual obligations as required by the Standard Conditions of Contract.

Orji stated that this had affected the timely completion of the projects and thus resulted in the expiration of the contracts by effluxion of time.

The statement read: “The projects which were awarded on 3rd December, 2012, were advertently abandoned by the contractors and no genuine commitment or good faith was shown towards executing the projects after accepting the considerations offered by the Federal Government and thereby exposing the road users to untold hardship due to the deplorable condition of the projects.

“The Honourable Minister has therefore directed the engineers in charge to take necessary steps to enter upon both the site and the works and take the same over from the affected companies.

“He further directed the engineers concerned to, upon doing the needful, arrange with the affected companies for a joint measurement of work so far done by the said companies preparatory to taking over the sites from the said companies.

“He warns that the Federal Ministry of Works under his watch will not condone acts of unseriousness and sabotage by contractors whose plan is to become a clog in the wheel of progress of the Renewed Hope administration which is determined to change the ugly narrative of Nigeria’s road infrastructure.

“He further warns that going forward, the government will not hesitate in terminating all projects that are funded but are non-performing.”

The affected contractors are yet to respond to the allegations.