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From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has terminated the contract awarded to Raycon Ltd. for the construction of a 9.7-kilometre stretch of the Calabar-Itu Highway over poor delivery.
Umahi announced the termination of the contract being handled by Raycon Construction Company during an inspection tour of the highway on Saturday.
He said the termination became necessary because the company failed to meet the terms and conditions of the contract.
The Minister expressed concern over the slow progress by one of the contractors, Messrs Raycon and Company (Nigeria) Limited, on a 9.7-kilometre section.
He rejected the contractor’s claim of not receiving mobilisation funds saying, “The Ministry’s policy requires contractors to report to the site and achieve a reasonable level of work certified before mobilisation funds are released,” he said.
Based on this, the Minister announced the contract’s termination and directed the Federal Controller of Works in Akwa Ibom to issue a stop-work order.
He also instructed a detailed assessment of the work completed to facilitate payment and ordered Hitech Africa Construction Company to take over the project on an emergency procurement basis.
The Minister also paid a working visit to sections 3A and 3B of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states.
He praised the contractor for maintaining quality standards, utilising advanced equipment and employing skilled workers.
Sections of the Calabar-Itu Road have been in a very deplorable state and had caused commuters a lot of discomfort.
