From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
THE Federal Government,
yesterday, raised alarm on the
construction of the nation’s
roads, saying that not up to
five per cent of new equip-
ment have been imported
into the country in the last
ten years.
Addressing local and for-
eign contractors in Abuja,
Minister of Works, Dave
Umahi, wondered how the
contractors could do good
jobs without latest equip-
ment.
“I asked the internal af-
fairs about the importation of
equipment and in the last 10
years, not up to five per cent
of new equipment have been
imported into this country.
So, where are the equipment
you are using to do all these
multiple jobs you are doing”
he asked.
He told the contractors that President Bola Ahmed
Tinubu has approved an ad-
ditional 60 road projects and
only those that finished their
jobs would benefit from the
contract.
“Mr President just ap-
proved 60 jobs and we will
start the designing and the
profiling. So, if you can finish
your jobs quickly, you will be
part of the bidding but if you
can’t finish your job, you can’t
bid and we won’t differenti-
ate between expatriate and
local contractors. The house
must submit to the new pol-
icy of the Federal Ministry of
Works” he noted.
He reminded the contrac-
tors that days are gone when
contractors spend between 17
years and 20 years on one job.
“We no longer want con-
tractors to be on site for 17
years or 20 years. It is not
helpful to contractors and
with the rate of inflation, it is
not advisable to toe that line again” he said
Umahi used the occasion
to warm contractors to desist
from ganging up against him
because he gets a feedback af-
ter every meeting.
“Let me advise that con-
tractors are meeting and
ganging up and some of you
also come out to tell me what
was said in the meeting. It is
very unuseful to you because
there is no meeting that will
make me back down on the
principles and policy of the
Ministry of Works.
“The policy will only stop
if I am removed from office.
If we have money to do 10
kilometers of road we will do
that and renew the hopes of
our people.
If what we offer you is not
okay with you, you can leave.
You can’t continue to in-
sist that your will be done if
I don’t have the means to pay
you. My eyes are on the job
daily” Umahi emphasised.
Consequently, he issued a
14-day ultimatum to contrac-
tors to mobilise to site or lose
their contracts.
“The first is to direct all
contractors back to site with-
in 14 days and this directive
is in line with the contract.
After 14 days and contrac-
tors have not fully mobilised
to site, I will issue letters of
termination and this is very
clear.
No more negotiation and
this is very important. I am
pleading that you respect our
position and challenges and
please move to site to do per-
manent work.
“Palliative works should
not stop permanent job.
Equipment for palliative
should be different for per-
manent work.
“If you want me to process
your certificate or if you want
me to pay you mobilisation,
please obey us.
“Let me announce that
we are going to deploy strict
measures. Every contractor
going back to site must give
us programme of work. No
programme of work, no pro-
cessing of certificate.”