BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Federal Government has threatened to revoke Section I of the Abuja - Kaduna road project awarded to Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc over slow pace of work.
News Rider reports that the contract for the rehabilitation of Abuja -Kano was originally awarded to Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc in in 2018.
The road project was divided into sections for ease of construction such as Abuja - Kaduna (Section I), Kaduna - Zaria (Section II) and Zaria - Kano (Section III).
Section II is substantially completed, while Section III is at an advanced stage of completion but Section I is only about 27% completed.
To this end, the Minister of Works, Engr David Umahi cautioned Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc to stop playing games and pushing the administration around but concentrate on delivering the project according to the reviewed contract sum of N740 billion.
At the official flag-off of the rehabilitation works on the Abuja - Kaduna road on Thursday, Umahi insisted that no further review would be done at the Section I of the project.
The Zaria - Kano section is substantially completed with about 17 kilometres remaining and has recently been expanded by about 5.3 kilometres to the Malam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano with solar street lightings. It is currently handled by BUA (Nig.) Plc.
Umahi noted that if Messrs Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc would not complete the project at the reviewed amount, the company should kindly inform the Federal Government and stop playing games.
He maintained that the ministry is willing to construct the project using concrete technology, as was done with the ongoing Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway or the Apapa - Oworonshoki Expressway, built to last for between 50-100 years.
The minister pointed out that President Bola Tinubu had issued a directive that two prompt actions should be taken on the road to ease the plight of road users.
He listed the directives as palliative works to be effected on the failed portions, as well as total rehabilitation, adding that since the contractors have been mobilised to site, they are expected to complete the project by the middle of November, 2024.
Umahi informed that when the road rehabilitation is completed, transporters and commuters would travel to Kaduna with their eyes closed.
A portion of Section I of the road was awarded to Messrs Dangote Industries Plc, who sub- contracted it to Messrs Hitech (Nig.).
The minister appealed to the contractors to speed up work in the three sections of the project but most importantly from the end where the road is critically bad.
He commended the infrastructural initiative of Mr. President, recalling that Nigeria's infrastructure nationwide was in a terrible state of decay on assumption of office.
The Director of Highways, Construction and Rehabilitation in the ministry, Engr. Umar Bakare said that due to the significance of the road as a major link to the FCT and its economic importance to the country, it is imperative to fast track the completion of the outstanding sections of the dual carriageway.
He informed that the length of the project is 38 kilometres (dual) within Section I of the original contract.
The scope of work consists of scarification, pulverization and compaction of the existing distressed pavement as sub- base. Also, provision of new stone- based to be stabilised with cement (3%) and provision of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) on both the carriageway and shoulders.
This is in addition to the provision of hydraulic structures– culverts, lined drains. The amount for the contract is N145. 8 billion, which is expected to be completed within fourteen months.
It is financed under the Tax Credit Scheme of the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The representative of Dangote Group, Alhaji Bukar Abba appreciated the Federal Government and the minister for the confidence reposed in the Dangote Industries Limited, while assuring that his company would align with the project’s specifications and the proposed completion period.
Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate, Onyekachi Nwebonyi and Senator Adamu Aliero praised the APC-led administration for rescuing road users, even as they enjoined the contractors to deliver the projects according to the specifications, as well as dateline.
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