SENATE COMMENDS POLICY DIRECTION AND INNOVATIONS OF THE RENEWED HOPE ADMINISTRATION IN WORKS SECTOR, BACKS ACTIONS TO HOLD CONTRACTORS ACCOUNTABLE. -AS JULIUS BERGER RISKS WARRANT OF ARREST FOR DISREGARDING LEGISLATURE’S INVITATION In an investigative hearing of the Senate Committee on Works on contractors’ slow pace of work on the Odukpani-Aba-Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene and other sections ending at Benin, including the Odukpani-Itu Highway, the Eket Bypass, Port Harcourt - Ahoada, Ahoada - Kaiama, and Port Harcourt - Onne Junction Sections of the East-West Road, carried out by the Senate Committee on Works held at the Senate building, National Assembly Complex on 5th December 2024, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Distinguished Senator, Barinada Mpigi has commended the bold steps of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR in tackling the challenges that inhibit road infrastructure development in Nigeria. In the meeting which had in attendance, the members of the Committee, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, with his management team and concerned contractors including, CCECC, RCC, SAMATECH, GITTO and SETRACO, the Senate Committee Chairman stated that the Senate is prepared to fully back actions that hold contractors accountable and put an end to practices that delay the impact of this administration’s infrastructure delivery goals. He maintained that Nigerians deserve nothing short of the best in our road infrastructure deliverables and urged stakeholders to uphold their responsibilities in this regard. He commended the Federal Ministry of Works for the technical innovations they have brought to the construction industry and warned that it was no longer business as usual for contractors to collect tax payers’ money and would delay in completing the projects they contracted to do or do a substandard job. He said, “In addition to his technical innovations, Senator Umahi has demonstrated remarkable decisiveness in identifying and addressing non-performing contracts. His actions in revoking underperforming agreements and ensuring that public funds are redirected to more capable contractors reflect a deep commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration. This agenda prioritizes infrastructure as the backbone of economic revitalization, and we, in the Senate, will support every step taken to ensure its success.” He decried the hardship contractors’ behaviour has caused road users. “This deplorable condition has resulted in devastating consequences. Precious lives have been lost, not just on the highway but also among those forced to seek alternative routes through treacherous river crossings. The tragic accident near the Mini Itu bridgehead in Odukpani Local Government Area, which claimed five lives, is a stark reminder of the urgency of this issue.” He warned that the era of such behaviours of contractors had gone. “Contractors, including RCC, have received substantial funds, including the N15 billion that was injected into this project, yet delivery remains elusive. The other stretch of the East-West Road has contractors like RCC, Setraco, and Gitto who have been paid billions, yet the pace of work is far from acceptable. Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister of Works thanked the Senate leadership, Senate Committee on Works and indeed the 10th NASS for placing a watch on the contractors to ensure value for money, speedy and quality delivery of all the road projects of this administration. He commended the President of Nigeria very highly for giving priority attention to the completion of the inherited ongoing projects and for the vision that informed the initiative to construct the four Legacy projects cutting across the 6 Geo-Political Zones. He noted the impediments to the execution of the ongoing projects but assured that Mr. President was tackling the situation. He said, “It's very rare for a President to come on board, and he decided to ignore new projects and decided to take on all the inherited projects and do them at the same time. It's very rare.” On funding, he said, “And we have a country where we want to make an omelet, but we don't want to strike an egg. The projects of roads can    not and will never be executed to the satisfaction of the public by using budgetary allocations. There must be different kinds of funding. These different kinds of funding must have to come from either bond or loan to do the job. But the public is saying, no, the President is taking a loan. But, the President is taking a loan to invest in infrastructure development. And that's what every developed country follows.  He spoke of the efforts made by the Ministry on the Odukpani-Aba-Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene road, “And so we modified it and then put more stronger sub base and then we increased the thickness of the asphalt pavement so that we can finish the existing pavement as quickly as possible. But the new carriageway, if we have money, will be done on the rigid pavement. This is the reason. And so we have to agree with them. They have to make a promise before the Senate that they will mobilize on three sections doing exactly the same work. Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Works has given Julius Berger Plc ultimatum to appear before it on 6th December 2024. In a motion moved and adopted during the investigative hearing, the Senate resolved that it would have no option than to issue a warrant of arrest on Julius Berger Plc should it fail to appear before it as scheduled. Moving the motion, a member of the Committee, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong said, "Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Limited is not here. Now, my understanding is that Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc bidded, was selected, and awarded this job. Funds from taxpayers across this country were disbursed to them. Our understanding is that they showed up on site for a brief period and have since abandoned the site. It is our collective resolve as a committee that under the new Minister's rule, Julius Berger should be produced to this committee in 24 hours by 2 p.m, the 6th of December, 2024, a failure of which will lead to our invoking our constitutional powers and issuing a warrant of arrest on messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc”    ...

GORONYO COMMISSIONS ROAD PROJECT IN LAGOS The Honourable Minister of State for Works, HMSW, Muhammad Bello Goronyo, Esq, has on Tuesday, 3rd December, 2024 commissioned a recently recovered critically failed road at Ijora Causeway situated within the Apopa- Ijora Local Government Area of Lagos State.  The road, built on rigid pavement through direct labour, was completed up to about 80% under the supervision of the Federal Emergency Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). Speaking at the occasion, the HMSW noted that the road will impact positively on the economic well-being of the community, it will also help to mitigate youth unemployment, insecurity and threats to communal peace. While commending FERMA for its prompt response to the plight of the community, he charged them to react proactively to ensure the remaining portion of the road is fixed before the end of the year, as it aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, who according to him is running an infrastructure-friendly administration. He enjoined the leaders and people to take full ownership of the facility to prevent it from abuse. The representative of the Ojora of Ijora, who was unavoidably absent, Chief Samsudeen Ojora expressed the appreciation of His Royal Majesty and the indigenes of the community for the recovery and reconstruction of the road, which, as he emphasised, was hitherto impassable, terrible and an eyesore.  He appealed to the Minister and FERMA to ensure the speedy completion of the remaining portion of the project. He further pledged the unalloyed support and continuous prayers of the Oba for the Federal Government. The MD/CEO of FERMA, Dr. Chukwuemeka Agbasi commended the Oba of Ijora and the people residing in the community for their good manners, support and cooperation, while the project was ongoing. Dr. Agbasi promised that FERMA will continue to do their best in adding value to road management in the country.   ...

CALL ERRING CONTRACTORS TO ORDER... GORONYO CHARGES FERMA. The Honourable Minister of State, Federal Ministry of Works, HMSW, Mohammed Bello Goronyo Esq, has charged the Managing Director/ CEO of Federal Emergency and Roads Maintenance Agency, (FERMA), to warn contractors who fail to deliver on their contract awards to desist.  He said the era of abandoning projects is over. These contracts are awarded and paid through the tax payers money who desire value for their money.  The list of defaulting Contractors must be made available to the Headquarters not later than next week. He also proposed the need for a strong Technical Committee that will criss-cross the country to monitor FERMA projects with a view to ascertaining the quality of their deliveries. The Honourable Minister made these remarks on Monday 2nd November, 2024, during his familiarisation tour of the South West section of FERMA, where the State Coordinators made presentations before the HMSW on the progress, challenges and expectations in the cause of the discharge of their duties. Goronyo commended the Federal Road Management Engineers, ( FRME), from the South-West States, assuring them that all issues raised will be looked into to make FERMA great and successful.  He was quick to add that though the challenges are real, huge and enormous, they are not insurmountable. “The country must tighten up its belt and combat the challenges frontally.  We have been drawing from a well without water for so long. We now have a President who is willing to face the challenges head on without complaining. We must be ready to support one another and do things differently. We must all support His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to deliver on his mandate.” He remarked. The HMSW pledged to pay unscheduled visits to contract sites to have a first hand knowledge of the commitment of contractors to projects, while also assuring that Staff Welfare is a paramount issue of concern which will not be toyed with.   ...