The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has announced a definitive deadline of April 2026 for the completion and commissioning of the Abuja-Lokoja highway project.
The Minister made the declaration on Saturday during an inspection tour of road projects in the North Central zone. While he commended the contractor for the quality of work done on the sections visited, he strongly criticized the slow pace of progress.
Umahi emphasized the federal government’s new payment policy, stating that contractors will be paid based on milestone completion. He issued a stern warning that projects would be revoked from underperforming contractors and re-awarded to more competent firms.
“We are going to agree on what you can finish in the next one year, and then we agree on milestone completion. If you complete from here to here, you get paid. Those who cannot meet up, we will divide their jobs and give to those who can,” he stated.
He delivered a direct ultimatum to the contractor: “The quality of the job is excellent, the pace of the work is nonsense. If I come again in the month of November, and the thing is still like this, I will discontinue the job.”
The Minister revealed that the project, initially designed for asphalt, was switched to concrete at the contractor’s request while maintaining the same cost of N56 billion. The concrete pavement will now cover the entire 53-kilometer stretch.
In a related development, Umahi also announced that the massive Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road project is expected to be completed in June 2026. He noted that the road, divided into three sections, requires an estimated N761 billion for its completion.
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