By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
The Hon. Minister of Works Engr David Nweze Umahi, has inaugurated a Contract Management Team (CMT) for the Value-Added Concession (VAC) category of the Highways Development and Management Initiative (HDMI) at the Federal Ministry of Works Headquarters in Abuja on Tuesday.
Following their inauguration, the Minister charged members to work hard and double their effort at this critical stage of contract implementation, a statement signed by the director, Press and Public relations, Blessing Lere-Adams said.
The Minister said, “I understand that it has been three three years of hard work by the Project Delivery Team (PDT) members of the Highways Development & Management Initiative, most of whom are now being transmuted as members of the Contract Management Team, CMT.
“We expect that the same hard work you brought to bear on the contract Preparatory Stages would be doubled at this critical stage of contract implementation.”
Umahi, similarly said, “The idea of including Senior Executive Management representation from each concessionaire on the CMT is to ensure seamless working and interaction. I therefore wish to advise the concessionaires to accord the CMT, which they are already a part of, the maximum cooperation that is needed. As we are aware, the Value for Money (VFM) generated through PPPs depends on the quality of the private partner and the government’s contract management systems and teams.”
“To the government side,” he said, “please, accord this assignment the utmost attention it deserves and not be in the erroneous belief that these concessions or contracts will be self-regulating and self-reporting. Your terms of reference (TOR) will nonetheless be explained to you in due course, and it will be tied to the task of liaising with the concessionaire on matters relating to the management of the contract. You are therefore required to be proactive and guide these contracts to financial close and Project implementation accordingly. “
The Permanent Secretary of Works Ministry, Mr Mahmuda Mammam, in his opening remarks said “The HDMI was created by the Ministry to manage and develop the federal road networks, with the aim of attracting sustainable investment and funding in the development of road infrastructure and maximisation of the use of assets along the Right of Way (ROW).”
He said “The Initiative is expected to amongst others, bring order, accountability, and profitable entrepreneurship to the operations, management, and maintenance of Federal Highways.
Twelve roads were initially planned for concession under the first phase of the initiative, namely: Benin – Asaba; Abuja– Lokoja; Kano – Katsina; Onitsha – Owerri – Aba;Shagamu –Benin; Abuja -Keffi –Akwanga; Kano – Maiduguri; Lokoja – Benin; Enugu-Port Harcourt; Ilorin-Jebba; Lagos-Abeokuta; and Lagos-Badagry. However, only nine of the roads attained commercial close.”