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By Victor Osula, Abuja
The Federal Government has withdrawn the Abuja-bound carriageway of the ongoing Mararaba-Keffi road reconstruction project from China Harbor Engineering Company Limited, warning that no payment certificates will be issued for sub-standard works.
Works Minister David Umahi announced the decision during an inspection of the 43.65 kilometer dual carriageway, citing the company’s “poor performance and uncooperative attitude”.
Umahi accused the company of failing to comply with Ministry of Works directives and neglecting sections of the road not under active construction.
He said the affected section will now be operated by local contractors to ensure speed and quality of delivery.
“From tomorrow, local contractors will be mobilized to handle both the inner and outer shoulder using reinforced concrete. Even though there are only two contractors, one will handle the inner shoulder and the other the outer shoulder,” Umahi said.
The minister complained that “several interventions” were needed to force China Harbor to stay on track it was not working on, describing such behavior as “indiscipline and disregard for the public interest”, which would no longer be tolerated.
Umahi directed that no contractor should lay binders or paving without completing shoulders, stressing that payment certificates would not be issued for any project that did not meet standard specifications.
He also warned that any ministerial official who failed to escalate the project’s challenges within 24 hours would be recalled.
“I take responsibility for not acting sooner. But in the future, every controller and zone manager will have to report problems to me directly,” Umahi said.
The minister warned contractors against political pressure to avoid accountability, saying President Bola Tinubu had given him full support to implement reforms in the sector.
“When we correct contractors, some of them run to the relevant parties to misrepresent the ministry. But let’s be clear, if anyone in the ministry asks you for money, report it publicly. We will protect the interests of this country,” he warned.
Umahi said the redesigned construction method for the road involves stabilizing the base with 3.5 percent concrete, building 20-centimetre-thick concrete shoulders and milling the existing asphalt before applying the binder and wearing course, a process he said would ensure a lifespan of at least 40 years.
The Mararaba-Keffi road, one of the busiest roads linking the Federal Capital Territory to Nasarawa and other north central states, was initially allocated N73 billion but later revised to improve structural strength and durability.
Umahi further revealed that the first section of the larger Abuja-Keffi corridor, which extends for 47.47 kilometres, costs 1.067 trillion naira, approximately 11.57 billion naira per kilometre, covering flyovers, solar lighting, coastal protection, tree planting and strengthened retaining walls.
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