The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to contractors handling the dualization of the 107km Enugu-Onitsha road, citing dissatisfaction with the slow pace of work.
The Minister of Works, David Umahi said the project must align with the Renewed Hope administration’s policies on infrastructure development, particularly concerning project speed, quality, and the comfort of road users.
Umahi gave the directive in Abuja on Thursday 8th August 2024 during a meeting with the management of MTN Nigeria, the funder of road construction under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme, representatives of the Enugu State Government, and the two contractors handling the project, Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Ltd and Nigercat Ltd.
The Minister, who maintained that the delays in the project were not due to funding issues but rather a lack of execution on the part of the contractors, expressed disappointment over the current condition of the road and criticized the contractors for their lack of commitment and insensitivity to the plight of road users.
He said, “The MTN has engaged the subcontractors, two subcontractors, RCC Ltd and Nigercat Ltd. The first time I supervised that project, I discovered that the Nigercat section where we have a binder course had failed.
“I directed that the binder course must be scarified and reinstated, and I knew it was inherited. I want to believe that it has been done.
“Let me express my disappointment over the slow pace of work on that project. It’s one of the worst roads in this country.
“Everywhere we have diversion; diverting from the one that RCC and the Nigercat had completed, the contractors are not kind enough to even put stone based on the diversion points.
“So, by the reason of the launching of our ‘Operation Free our Roads,’ it is now a violation of the policy on the side of the controllers and directors of the Federal Ministry of Works where we have vehicles falling on any project that is ongoing or where there are potholes on our roads.”
Umahi recounted a recent inspection of the road alongside the Governor of Enugu State, where they witnessed firsthand the severe traffic congestion and discomfort faced by road users, particularly at the Abakpa section, where RCC Ltd had blocked off part of the road to lay binder, forcing all traffic onto a poorly maintained single carriageway.
“I have continued to say that Nigerians should not be suffering while contractors are building roads for our people. It does not happen in any other country, the way it happens in Nigeria.
“The public must know that the President’s intention is not for them to suffer while trying to fix the roads, and it is their right to insist that contractors should fix the roads that they are engaged on.
“Most of the time, contractors bring very serious nuisances, hardships, and pains to the public, and they don’t care.”
By Dele Anofi
