The Federal Government through the Ministry of Works has given contractors handling 260 emergency projects awarded by Renewed Hope of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu a deadline of three months to complete and deliver the projects.
Works Minister, Sen. Engr. David Umahi issued this ultimatum during a meeting of the management of the Federal Ministry of Works with contractors handling the various projects and Federal Controllers of Works held at the Ministry’s headquarters, Mabushi-Abuja on Monday.
According to the statement released by his aide, these emergency road projects were appropriated in 2023 Supplementary Budget with the intention to bring intervention on the completely failed parts of critical roads nationwide with a view to restoring the serviceability level of the affected roads.
Minister listed about 37 contractors who have achieved little or no milestone in the project delivery since the contracts were awarded and warned that such contractors must mobilize effectively to the site latest Wednesday 10th July 2024 or face contract termination.
He said, ” If after the deadline for mobilization to the site, any contractor fails to comply, the job shall be terminated by effluxion of time as the contract is for a time limit of 3 months.
He further directed, “Any contractor whose job has stayed for more than 3 months without completion after the issuance of award letter must seek and obtain approval for extention of time from the Federal Ministry of Works.
“As no excuse of security challenges or lack of mobilization funds justify the sufferings they are subjecting road users or face being blacklisted as constituting a clog in wheel of progress in the efforts of the Renewed Hope administration in revolutionizing road infrastructure for Nigeria’s economic prosperity”, the Minister said.
Umahi 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 Minister reiterated that mobilization funding under the Standard Conditions of Contract is not a condition precedent for them to move to site but it’s at the discretion of the Ministry and made available only to contractors who can undertake affidavit of commitment to complete the job within three months of mobilization.
He stated, “Our new policy is that if you want mobilization and we are happy to give you, you will abide by the conditions. One is that there will be no review of any component of the mobilization given. Two, we will give you 30% and you will do 30% of work before we can give you another money.
“So please, mobilization is not compulsory. Is that clear? Again, emergency projects are not mobilized. The rule is that in emergency projects, you will go and do it 100%, and then you submit your papers. We now pay 80% and send your documents to BPP. When they approve, we pay the balance of 20%”, he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata stated that the period had gone when contractors were taking the country for granted and could afford to delay in job delivery for years after collecting mobilization and would keep feeding on the VOP.
He charged contractors to brace up to the new spirit of “Nigeria first,” introduced in the Federal Ministry of Works under Renewed Hope administration of Mr. President.
He said, “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 Minister right now to stop considering 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”, the Perm Sec added.