The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has ordered the removal of China Harbour Engineering Company Limited from a significant section of the ongoing Mararaba-Keffi road reconstruction project.
The company has been relieved of its work on the vital Abuja-bound carriageway due to repeated failures and a blatant disregard for project specifications and directives.
The Minister announced the decision on Saturday during an inspection visit, expressing profound disappointment with the contractor’s performance. He cited the company’s uncooperative attitude and its prioritization of profit over partnership with the government. “I am disappointed with the Abuja-bound carriageway,” Umahi stated. “The company’s attitude has been uncooperative.”
Mr. Umahi elaborated on the technical violations, emphasizing that the contractor had consistently flouted critical ministry policies. These include the directive to ensure the entire road stretch is free of potholes during construction and the mandatory completion of road shoulders before laying pavement. “You cannot do pavement without completing the shoulders because such negligence causes road failure,” the Minister declared, labelling the situation as “unacceptable.”
Despite repeated interventions and over five visits to the site, the Minister said his instructions were ignored, prompting the drastic action. He revealed that certificates of payment were still being issued despite these violations, a practice he condemned.
Consequently, the 43.65-kilometre dual carriageway will now be handled by local contractors, who are expected to be mobilized immediately to complete the inner and outer shoulders using concrete. This shift aims to ensure both speed and quality in the project’s delivery.
Minister Umahi also issued a stern warning to ministry staff, stating that controllers and directors who fail to report such contractual failures within 24 hours would be recalled. He thanked President Bola Tinubu for his support, which he said was crucial in enabling such firm decisions to be taken against powerful contractors.
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