BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja
The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi has declared that the dualisation of Abuja-Kaduna highway contract was not reawarded to Infoquest Nigeria Limited as speculated in the media.
This is coming barely 24-hours after a viral report on the Social Media, which quoted the minister as saying that Infoquest Nigeria Limited secured a 'No objection' of N252.89 billion from the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP).
Specifically, one of the national dailies (Daily Trust Newspaper) had in January 21, 2025, published the report, claiming that a section of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano road dualisation contract was awarded to Infoquest Nigeria Limited.
Addressing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja, Umahi described the report as unwarranted, false, misleading, and damaging.
News Rider reports that President Bola Tinubu had in November 2024, approved the redesign of the remaining 127 kilometres of Section I, Abuja - Kaduna dual carriageway using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) instead of asphalt.
Umahi insisted that the ministry has no business relationship with Infoquest Nigeria Limited, the company that was allegedly reawarded the road contract.
He was emphatic that the ministry has a contractual agreement with Infiouest International Limited on the said project.
The minister pointed out that the company is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and is absolutely in compliance with all legal requirements and regulations set by the Companies and Allied Matters Act.
He described the allegation as a deliberate orchestration by a cartel to malign the ministry, undermine the efforts of the Renewed Hope administration in revolutionising road infrastructure development and demarketing the company that has proven capacity in road construction.
He demanded a public apology from Daily Trust Newspapers, which he said should be published in at least five national dailies for peddling falsehood against the ministry.
The minister lamented the deliberate misrepresentation of facts contained in the sponsored publications made in several national dailies by Julius Berger Plc recently on why they reneged in their contractual agreement on Section I of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road.
Umahi wondered why the coordinated onslaught of falsehood, blackmail and gangup by adversaries for insisting on a new order of value for money, quality assurance and best practices in project pricing and execution.
He urged the public and media to join in the fight against national sabotage by some contractors.
Minister of State for Works, Barr. Mohammed Bello Goronyo was satisfied with the proactiveness of the ministry in responding to the allegations raised by mischief makers, whose intentions were to distract and undermine the ministry's bold initiatives aimed at tranforming the roads for economic benefits.
He appealed to media owners not to allow themselves to be used by fifth columnists to publish unfounded reports that would undermine the Renewed Hope agenda but should always crosscheck their information with the appropriate authority to avoid spreading fake news.
In his vote of thanks, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Works, Engr. Olufunso Adebiyi said that the briefing was thoughtful and timely.
He harped on the importance of development journalism and urged the media to always uphold the truth rather than allowing themselves to be used by enemies to distabilise national development.
Briefly
The project was divided into three 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, which is only about 27 percent completed, remained in a deplorable state, worsened by continuous wear and tear, as well as rough climatic conditions.
Due to the slow pace of work and abandonment of the remaining 127 kilometres, Umahi held talks with Julius Berger on the need to accept the final reviewed contract sum and remobilise to site.
But the lackadaisical approach to the project by the company, prompted the ministry to convey the approval of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for a final offer of N740, 797, 204, 173.25 billion after several variations and augmentations.
Julius Berger was however issued a seven-day ultimatum to accept the offer or risk termination of the contract. The ultimatum expired on November 4, 2024 and the company was served a 14-day Notice of Termination of Contract.
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