FG to Save N640bn On Abuja-Kano Road Construction Using Concrete

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, has defended the Federal Government’s decision to switch from using asphalt for the construction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano road to using concrete.

According to the Minister the decision will save the Government over N640 billion.

The contract for the construction of the road which was awarded to Julius Berger was recently terminated by the Minister, who accused the contractor of unethical practises and failure to abide by the terms of the project.

Senator Umahi who stated this when he appeared before the House Ad-hoc Committee mandated to Monitor the Construction of of the road, chaired by Aminu Jaji, said when re-awarded it would be for a concrete road.

The Minister expressed displeased that the project, which he said was uncompleted and shoddy, has lasted about seven years.

He said by their estimation the decision would save the Federal Government over N640 billion from the N1.5 trillion demanded by Julius Berger due to variation.

He also said the road would be of better quality and would be done in record time.

The Committee Chairman, Aminu Jaji, directed that all relevant documents related to the project be submitted so they can be better guided in addressing the issue.

The Minister was required supply the committee contract agreement, certificate rates, evidence of payment made so far among others.

“If certificate was raised what was the value and the percentage of work covered. If you want a review, at what point do what the review or what point was the review done. All these are information we require,” a member of the Committee, Idris Wase, who moved the motion for the submission of documents

The Chairman also observed that there appeared to be discrepancies in the figures for the project presented by the Ministry and the contractor.

Meanwhile in an earlier meeting with the Committee, Julius Berger blamed the slow work on the road to poor and policy changes.

Speaking during the interactive meeting with the Committee, the management team of the company led by Benjamin Bott said they are being owed by the Federal Government.

END

 

Photo credit…..X