MINISTER OF WORKS DIRECTS CONTRACTORS TO GO BACK TO SITE, SETS TIME FRAME FOR PROJECTS DELIVERY The Honourable Minister of works His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON has charged the contractors under the Federal Ministry of Works to brace themselves for the standard of work and delivery time frame required of every contractor under the Renewed Hope administration the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR. The Hon Minister gave this charge in a meeting with the Directors of the Ministry and the contractors held at the Ministry's headquarters Mabushi-Abuja, this 11th day of January, 2024. The Honourable Minister emphasized that going forward, contractors must take into account the plight of Nigerians and the Renewed Hope Initiatives on road infrastructure development in executing their projects. He maintained that the Ministry of Works means business and would not take excuses from contractors. He assured them that the Ministry would consider the review of contracts previously consumated in line with set parameters and prevailing economic situations, and that all generated certificates would be verified and paid accordingly, while urging them to ensure that all issues of contract variations were brought to the notice of the relevant departments of the Ministry. He thanked Mr. President for the prompt release of funds for palliatives works. ”The Bureau of Public Procurement has approved over 80% of requests for palliative projects. Those who indicated interest in the palliative project should please come to the Ministry to collect award letters and complete documentation. Mr. President has graciously released 50% of funds on palliative work, and so he wants to see action in all the 36 States and Abuja.” The Honourable Minister used the opportunity to announce the re-organization of the supervision structure for the Special Projects across the nation and introduced a special mechanism for tracking of certificates generated by contractors and expressed hope that with the new initiative under the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President, each State of the Federation would record not less than 150km roads in the Federal roads network in the year 2024, in addition to the special road projects funded through different extra budgetary platforms. 4. Earlier in his remarks, the representative of the Permanent Secretary and Director Highway, Bridges and Design, Engr. Awosanya Onatuga, stated that the meeting of the Directors and contractors with the Honourable Minister was agenda setting for the year 2024, and the essence was to take the task of performance that would help them move the Works sub-sector forward in accordance with the innovative plans of Federal Government under Mr. President. He thanked the Honourable Minister for the relief given to road users toward the Xmas and New Year seasons.  "We can say we did very well towards the end of last year. There were no adverse reports on any blockage, people sleeping on the road. Yes, we have not done so much; we are not where we are supposed to be, but with the spirit of the Hon Minister, the can-do spirit, and it's not slowing down, we are on the right track"   ...

Honourable Minister of Works Inaugurates Committees to Fast- Track the Implementation of HDMI Programme, Tasks Concessionaires on Best Standard on Road Construction.   In keeping with the avowed commitment of the President of Nigeria, His Excellency Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR towards road infrastructure revolution, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON, has inaugurated three committees to fast-track the implementation of the Highway Development and Management Initiative (HDMI). The programme which is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement in the construction, operations and maintenance of highways, is designed in such a way and manner that the emergent concessionaires will recoup their investments through toll and non- toll revenues as may be negotiated.   Speaking during the event, the Honourable Minister of Works harped on the need for the committees to work effectively and concertedly bearing in mind the expectations of Nigerians, in terms of transparency, standard and efficiency in contract negotiations. He noted that contract with some concessionaires had been consummated but said that the current economic dynamics and the new policy direction of the present administration would require a review of the scope of work and cost implication. He charged the concessionaires to abide by the criteria set and the timeline for the projects.   "We own the design; you will own the cost of the project while we carry out verification on the cost of the projects; the idea is to scope the projects. We want to have a standard road infrastructure to toll. Our business is to ensure that your design conforms with the Ministry's standard of design, that is why we are making the Director of Roads and Bridges of the Ministry to be the Chairman of the committee on Scoping and Design. We don’t want to do just a patch on the road and give it to the public for you to toll. The public will resist. We want to have a standard road to toll".   He said “we have to provide alternative road because by law you cannot toll road if there is no alternative route to it. It is very important that every of the projects must have alternative routes.  The number of toll gates and toll stations will be determined by Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). We also have to put CCTV Camera, Solar Light and Security on our roads. Whatever that will make our roads safer is very important to us. All these must be considered part of the business."   The three committees set up by the Hon. Minister for the actualization of the Federal Government’s HDMI programme are: Scoping and Design, Financial Due Diligence and Agreement Review.   While constituting the Due Diligence Committee, the Hon. Minister said “We must have a figure to begin to work with under Due Diligence committee, we want to hand over all these sites to people who are serious by the end of March 2024.  Enough of these meetings, enough of the bureaucracy “.   Sen. Umahi said of the Agreement committee, " I have given a template on how to review agreement and I think the legal department can do this on their own “.   He told the concessionaires of the consequence of not meeting up with the rules of engagement. “I must say that in case timelines were set and any company couldn't meet up with the timelines, we may not continue processing anything with that company."   Sen. Umahi further stated, “in all our biddings in 2024 going forward, every cost element must be disaggregated. The procurement law has set up profit for the contractors.  We will verify the cost in respect of concessionaires. We have to ensure that the cost you are putting will do the job. We don’t want you to engage and come back and say there is inflation after we engage you on the project. We have to ensure that concessionaires have all what it takes to do the job. The Ministry of Works and the concessionaires must ensure that we are on the same page so that the citizens will not suffer.  Patriotism demands that we must not allow the citizens to suffer. We have to be realistic and honest. We don’t have all the money as government to do these jobs.   The Hon. Minister however, expressed happiness for the progress made by 9 concessionaires in finalizing their designs and documentation to achieve  a financial  close  by the first  quarter  of 2024 and charged  them to diligently  work  with the Ministry's  committees for the final processes.   Earlier, speaking on behalf of the Permanent Secretary at the meeting, the Director Highways and Bridges, Engr. Awosanya Onatuga said the Directors and the concessionaires were ready to work concertedly to move HMDI project forward. He remarked, "the contract has been consummated but there are certain dynamics that will necessitate a review of the scope of work that will dovetail into the cost of each project, and the Hon. Minister is desirous to fast-track this process, so that the second phase can take off". ...

Our Plan on Road Infrastructure Development is Holistic and Sub- Nationally All- Inclusive This is the policy direction that drives the synergy between the Federal Ministry of Works and sub- national governments in tackling accumulated road infrastructure challenges across the nation.   The Hon. Minister of Works, His Excellency Sen. Engr Nweze David Umahi, CON is committed towards making all the States have a feel of the positive impact of the Renewed Hope administration of our dear President His Excellency, Sen. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR on road infrastructure, which is a catalyst for the socio-economic development of progressive nations. This was disclosed during the visit of the Governor of Katsina State, H.E Dr. Dikko Umar Radda, in his office today, 9th January, 2024.   Although it was a closed-door meeting, the visit was not unconnected with the zeal of the Governor of Katsina State to tap into the innovative road infrastructure agenda of Mr. President in the Works sub-sector. ...