FG issues three-month ultimatum to contractors handling emergency projects

The Federal Government has given contractors handling its 260 emergency projects a three-month deadline to complete and deliver the projects or face contract termination.

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, issued the ultimatum during a meeting with the contractors and Federal Controllers of Works at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser (Media) to the minister, Orji Uchenna, the emergency projects, appropriated in the 2023 Supplementary Budget, aim to restore the serviceability level of critical federal roads nationwide.

However, about 37 contractors have achieved little or no milestones in project delivery since the contracts were awarded.

The minister warned that any contractor who fails to mobilide effectively to the site by July 10, 2024, will have their contract terminated.

He also directed that any contractor whose job has stayed for more than three months without completion must seek approval for an extension of time from the Federal Ministry of Works.

The minister said, “The people are suffering, the President is having sleepless nights in his efforts to fix our road infrastructure to help our economy, and people will be given jobs and they are telling us stories.

“There have been jobs awarded by this ministry in the past and money paid, and the contractors would hold the money, and they would say it’s a security problem. Didn’t you know about the security situation before you got the job?”

The Permanent Secretary, Yakubu Kofarmata, emphasised that the era of contractors delaying job delivery for years after collecting mobilisation is over.

He charged contractors to embrace the new spirit of “Nigeria first” and prioritise the nation’s interests.

“Honestly, we have a stake. It is about the Nigerian nation. We don’t have any other country other than Nigeria. Believe me, we are pushing the Honorable Minister right now to stop considering this VOP and augmentation, because, there is no reason, after being given an award letter, you come and say you are waiting for payment for six months. Please, let us consider the nation first. Once we put Nigeria first, you see that things will move,” he said.