…..To terminate ongoing projects older than 10 years
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
Minister of Works Dave Umahi has disclosed that the Bola Tinubu administration inherited at least N14 trillion worth of road projects numbering 2,604 spanning 18,000 kilometers from the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
He made the disclosure at the weekend to State House Correspondents after his first briefing session with President Bola Tinubu at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
“The ministry inherited a total of 2,604 projects, worth N14tn and for 18,000 kilometers of road, that’s what we had,” he explained.
According to him, since assuming office on August 21, his ministry has paid N4 trillion of the N14 trillion owed to contractors constructing various road projects across the country.
Umahi said, “Between when we came on board and now, about N4 trillion has been paid. And so that is a balance of N10tn remaining.”
He, however, disclosed that road projects that have lingered for about two decades were never appropriated and, therefore, would have to be terminated at his behest.
While noting that the ministry has identified funding sources to offset N4 trillion of its outstanding debts to contractors, there was still a funding gap of N6 trillion.
“Now, in this N10 trillion, we have identified sources that could fund up to N4 trillion. So, we have a funding gap of about N6 trillion. That is what is there now.
“We have a number of programs for road development under the previous administration. We inherited all the projects; we have not dropped any of them. But curious to know that some of these projects have lasted for 20 years, some 10 years. In fact, in most cases, they were never appropriated throughout every tenure.
“So I went to seek Mr. President’s nod so that I will be able to terminate some of the projects that have stayed up to 10 years without any defined source of funding,” Umahi explained.
Minister of Works expressed dismay at the current appropriation system for federal road projects, saying the piecemeal disbursement of funds to contractors is stalling delivery.
“I shared with Mr President that the way appropriation is being done is not healthy to develop our roads infrastructure. For example, for a road that may cost N10 billion, an appropriation of N150 million is made.
“It is just for the contractor to take and put in his pockets because where an average cost of projects that we inherited is about N700 million per kilometer and you are given out N150 million for the whole year, then you are just enhancing the pockets of the contractor,” he said.
He urged President Tnubu to engage with the National Assembly to priotitise projects.
“Just look at over 2600 projects, 18,000 kilometers of roads, and N14tn. That is huge! And the worrisome part of this is that even the ones that are being funded properly, the roads hardly last up to five years,” Umahi said.
He said the short lifespan of roads necessitated his recent proposal to the President to redesign and construct yet-to-be-completed federal roads using reinforced concrete.
“So I briefed Mr. President on what we are doing by introducing reinforced concrete technology for our road pavements,” the former Ebonyi Governor said.
Umahi, however, vowed to “fight” entities poised to frustrate this plan, saying, “I know that there are a lot of fights from contractors, but I’m David, I’m known for fight and I will fight this because I’ve reported myself to Mr. President.”
On criticism that trailed his comment in Akure on September 1, 2023, where he said the FG would redesign yet-to-be-completed road projects to concrete pavements.
He had argued that using cement for roads is more reliable and cost-effective than the widely-used bitumen, insisting that it can last for 50 years.
“We are sure that this is the way to go and it has a guarantee of 50 years,” he said.
But the opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, had faulted the idea, saying the direct labour approach of the former Governor does not yield the promised outcomes as he claimed.
However, Umahi said he had received the President’s backing and would proceed with the plan.
He said, “Incidentally, Mr. President is also an infrastructure guru. And he fully supports that we should use reinforced concrete for our road pavements.
“So there is no other place you can report me other than to report me to God. So Mr. President is supporting me that way. We’ll redesign our roads in reinforced concrete pavement.
“I’m aware that the contractors have been quarreling and arguing. So, I want to declare that I’m open to any kind of blackmail, but my eyes are on the ball. And my eyes are on how we can get Nigerians to have value for the money. That is the assignment President Bola Tinubu gave to me. And I’m going to do that with the fear of God.”
Citing a solidarity visit paid to the President last Thursday by a delegation from Rivers State, the Minister revealed that he had written to the NNPC to release monies for the East-West Road, saying, “I know that’s what the Rivers people mentioned when they came to see Mr. President. So that road is going to be on concrete.”
Having toured the South East and parts of the North West and North Central, Umahi said he would now focus on the South West, particularly Lagos State, where works are ongoing on the Third Mainland Bridge, Carter Bridge, Liverpool Bridge, the Eko Bridge and Marine Bridge.
“I want to see things for myself and appraise the ongoing projects. I want to see who is doing a good job and who is doing a bad job. So I briefed Mr. President about that,” he explained.