By Maduka Nweke
The Federal Government has said it is impressed with the contractors handling the Aba-Port Harcourt road projects. The Minister of Works, David Umahi, who visited the site recently to ascertain the work progress, expressed satisfaction with the contractors.
In a show of acceptance of work quality, the minister relaxed the 14-day ultimatum given to contractors handling the road for not meeting the expected targets.
Aside the threat relaxation, he commended the contractor handling the project for showing purposefulness, and, therefore, announced the revocation of the warning letter issued to CCECC a fortnight ago over its delay in mobilising to the site despite government’s directive. “The warning letter given to CCECC for slow pace of work is hereby revoked. The new pace of work is excellent, the job quality is excellent, and the controller sends me progress reports everyday.”
The minister, who also inspected the rehabilitation and reconstruction of Enugu-Port Harcourt dual carriageway Section 2 ( Umuahia Tower-Aba Township Rail/ Road) in Abia State, handled by the Arab Contractors; the East West Road Section 3 (Eleme-Onne Junction) in Rivers State handled by Reynolds Construction Company Nigeria Ltd; the rehabilitation of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway Section 3 (Enugu-Lokpanta) in Enugu State handled by CGC, said he was impressed by the progress of work on the respective projects.
He said, ‘‘I want to commend RCC openly and with all sincerity. I will also take the quality of work going on to Mr. President because he directed me. I was just barely one week in office when he directed me to go and flag off this project because the leaders of Niger Delta came to visit him, and they complained bitterly about the road.
On the good job being done by the Arab Contractors, he said, “I am very happy that the Arab Contractors has done a good job. I commend the contractors. Anybody who wants to see a good job should come here. The Controller of Abia State is doing extremely well together with his engineers.’’
While at the CGC project site, the minister said, “I have seen the work they are doing. They are doing a very beautiful work. The job quality is very good and the speed is also very good. They are among the contractors that have the highest number of equipment in any of their project sites. So I commend them very highly.’’
The contractors who spoke during the inspection visit to their respective projects said they were committed to the new order in road infrastructure development in Nigeria and assured the Minister that they would ensure quality and speed in the delivery of their road projects. The Project Manager of CCECC in charge of Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Mr. Henry Shaw said, “I am going to assure you that the Minister is a professional Engineer with a great difference. He knows everything, so nobody can cheat him.”