FG Reaffirms Commitment to completing Abuja/Kaduna Road. The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi (CON) has reassured the people of the North and Nigerians of the commitment of the FG to the completion of the Abuja –Kaduna dual carriageway by 2024.   Umahi disclosed this while speaking to journalists during the inspection of the highway as directed by Mr. President who, according to him, is so passionate about the completion of the road as it will alleviate the suffering and travel time of commuters plying the road.   The Minister added that the road is very important to Mr. President and he is committed to finishing it by 2024, adding that he will match his words with action.   Umahi said, "Mr. President is passionate and concerned about finishing this road and many other Federal roads across the Nation and my inspection as directed is to get first-hand information and examine the challenges involved in the construction of the road and other roads to be visited soon”.   The section 1 of the highway which is 165.5km is part of the 375.4-kilometer Abuja-Kaduna –Zaria-Kano project awarded to Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. in 2018 by the previous administration but is yet to be complete like other sections of the road due to insecurity and criminal activities.   The Minister who decried any form of wastage of funds or delay during construction work stressed that there should be a meaningful reason for any change in the approved design of a project to take place.   “Speaking further, he said, "I have observed that there is an issue with the design, I'm directing the Director of Geo-Technics Material and Quality Control of the Ministry of Works, he must come and run figures with me with the project Consultant".   "They have to prove to me that the CPR of the sub upgrade now is more than the CPR of the existing sub grade. I don’t believe in it and if that is not the case there shouldn’t be any need to disturb the existing sub grade, we should actually build our pavement on the existing sub grade. We want to see how we can cut down cost".   Umahi emphasized the need to quicken the approval process of payments for contractors and not make  contractors go to site when payments have not been made to them.   “Again, I have asked the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, (NSIA), to run me figures, let me know how much money they want to give in every month for this project because there is a limit you can push the contractor if you don’t have funding for him".   " If you generate certificate and you cannot pay him, you can’t do more, so we are trying to look at it and if we get the figures, we will be able to insist that the contractor should start this road constructions on a number of sections", he further said.   The Minister who acknowledged the central role of security in the progress of any nation has assured Nigerians that this administration will do everything within available means to provide security for lives and properties on the roads.   He promised that efforts will be made to provide solar light on the completed sections of the road for the safety of road users and its environs if the contingency funds are available.   The Minister encouraged the use of concrete road pavement as an alternative to the use of asphalt in road construction describing it as durable and cheaper.   He urged citizens to take responsibility for FG projects in their states by protecting them rather than looting and vandalizing them as government cannot protect them.   The Director Highway Construction and Rehabilitation, Engr. Folorunsho Esan and the Director Highway North Central Engr. Bola Aganaba, all promised to monitor closely from now on the progress of work going on the road and also to meet with the deadline.   Responding, the Project Manager Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd, represented by Engr. Dwadowki Finn, he expressed his gratitude to the Minister for his visit and encouragement. He stated that the project is their major project in the country and will continue to do their best to maintain the standard and deliver the project at the scheduled time.   The Minister was accompanied on the inspection by Senators Lawal Usman representative Kaduna Central and Onyekachi Nwaebonyi, representing Ebonyi North. The Federal Controller of Works in Kaduna State, Engr. Ibrahim Mmadu and Eng. Usman Yakubu were also in the entourage.   The Minister also before leaving Kaduna state paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Kaduna state who was represented by the Deputy Governor of the state. ...

"Open Your Mind I Am Here To Help", Umahi Assures Contractors The Honourable Minister of Works Engr David Nweze Umahi CON has assured contractors working with the Ministry that there is no cause for worry as long as they deliver on their projects. He gave   this assurance during a meeting held in the headquarters of the Ministry with Contractors handling projects in the North West geopolitical zone.   He said " I will not tamper with your job, i will not tamper with your profit, the stake I want to tamper with is the quality of your job."   He reiterated the need to embrace the need for concrete roads and wonder why some contractors are not in support of it despite its great advantage over asphalt in terms of cost and durability.   He added that due to the economic situation occasioned by the strength of the naira to the dollar, it is unwise to continue to resist the use of concrete roads and expressed his determination to oppose such resistance.   The Minister said, “I am ready for a fight with those who are resisting concrete technology in road building because concrete is cheaper than asphalt and more durable”.   Umar also expressed the commitment of President Bola Tinubu to improve the social - economic condition of the people through meaningful innovations.  “Mr. President has promised Nigerians a positive reform that will Foster development and we need to assist him to succeed”.   The Minister disclosed that under his leadership concerted effort will be made to ensure that contractors executed as quickly as possible and the contractors must work with realistic quotation to avoid wastage of funds.   Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmuda Maman who was represented by the Director Highways Construction and Rehabilitation Engineer Folorunsho Esan in his address told the stakeholders that the meeting was called to discuss ongoing road projects in the North West, he enjoined them to feel free to express their feelings. ...

Road Infrastructure: Panacea For National Development - Umahi .....Cautions contractors to improve or lose opportunities The Honorable Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi has reiterated the importance of road infrastructure to national development be it in the movement of hospital equipment, school children going to school, and also for commercial activities to thrive.   He stated this at his first meeting with contractors handling South West Geo-Political roads in the country held at the Ministry’s conference hall Mabushi, Abuja.   The Minister said the Lokoja – Abuja Road is a death trap for commuters as the road that is still on-going is gone bad already because of shabby jobs done by some contractors handling the 200km of the road project describing it as man inhumanity to man.   “The Lokoja road I inspected already is a death trap, the road shoulders are gone while the project is still on-going, this is man inhumanity to man and every life lost because of accident or kidnapping, people responsible will account for it on the last day.  People should have the fear of God because the fear of God brings good things” he said.   Umahi directed all contractors to do things right as agreed and urge them to speak out if there is any challenge encountered or their certificates of contracts awarded in other places will be ceased.   “I will not stop people benefiting but let the people breath first, if you have problem in one project, I will cease the certificate of others”.   The Minister advised Directors of the Ministry to put in more efforts towards their responsibilities and encouraged them to be visiting project sites because they will not understand what is going on except, they go to site.  He added that he will appoint coordinating officers for each geo political zones for things to be moving normal.   He noted that no hope can be renewed without a change of mind. ...