By SUNDAY ABBA, Abuja
Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria has expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of work its ongoing highway projects across Kogi State.
Dr Abiodun Essiet, Senior Special Adviser (SSA) to President Tinubu made the remark Monday while leading a media team from the Ministry of Works on inspection/commissioning tour of some federal road projects in the state alongside the ministry’s head of Press and Public Relations, Ahmed Mohammed.
During the visit, aimed to ascertain the level of progress and commission other completed ones, ongoing projects on three sections of the Abuja-Lokoja Highway were inspected, and the Special Repair of Lokoja- Ganaja Road was confirmed 100 per cent completed, while the Special Intervention on the Effect of Flooding on Washouts at some point along Itobe–Ayingba Road was commissioned.
On each project, the Federal Controller of Works, Kogi State, Patiko Musa Gana alongside the respective Engineers Representatives (ER), contractors, project managers, as well as the leadership of the team from the Ministry of Works briefed the press.
Communities representatives, professionals, civil society organisations (CSOs) among others expressed their gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister, David Umahi, and other stakeholders who made the execution of the projects possible, even as they urged government to consolidate on the achievement so far.
However, in the course of the inspection, contractors pointed out some challenges that had contributed to the slow pace of work to include insecurity, non-availability of funds, logistics problems associated with importing some materials and equipments, etc.
In her remarks, the presidential aide said, “We have gone round and what we’ve seen so far is that the contractors are on site, and for each of the ongoing projects along Abuja-Lojoka Highway and Obajana junction here, work is going on, but the pace at which the works are going on is not impressive to me.
While stressing how important the Abuja-Lokoja and the other roads in the state to the nation by the major connector between the North and South of the country, she urged all involved to step up their efforts and work with the speed of light to finish up in due time, adding that no further excuse would be entertained as Mr President has assured, and is doing everything possible to ensure, that all challenges impeding progress of work are tackled head-on.
The SSA said, “The area of insecurity that some of the contractors were complaining about has been addressed because we have just gotten the military approval from the Brigade General KUCD, who has assured that he going to provide security for any of the contractors who want to work any time, even at night,” urging them consider night work, if that is what will help them meet up, without concerns about security.
She also appealed to the contractors to ensure that while doing their job emergency routes are developed for traffic to flow, adding that a situation whereby their activities would cause gridlock will not be acceptable.
Speaking further, she said, “And I think, you know, like I said, I’m not impressed by the rate at which the work is going. If it’s continuing like that, they may not be able to meet up the target of when the project is supposed to finish on time. We don’t want to keep dragging things.
“So I think, I want to appeal to the contractors to also move to site, hire other materials and equipment for them to finish this work on time because the expectation is high.
“And mostly the Abuja-Lokoja Road is one of the legacy projects of Mr President, which we are hoping that will finish on time because we don’t stress on people using that road based on diversion, based on different things. So that’s my own overview of the whole assignment.
“But we are hoping that the contractors are going to move with the speed of light after this inspection and also take take into account some of the reports and some of the things that we have highlighted for them.”
The first port of call during the visit was the Reconstruction of Existing Pavement and Completion of the Additional Pavement on the Dualisation of Abuja – Lokoja Highway, Section III (CH.82+000 – CH.131+362): Abaji – Koton – Karfe Road, a two-lane double carriageway road of 49.362km length from Abaji passing through Chikara, Aseni, Idu, Igeheko, Ofoko Gwari, Ofoko Koto, Adabo, Gegu Osenseni to Koton Karfe.
The project, awarded 23rd February, 2022 with an initial completion date of 19th April, 2025 (to be reviewed) and a reviewed contract sum of N56,18 billion has attained 17.09 per cent completion to date, with 122.22 time lapse.
On the Rehabilitation of Abuja – Lokoja 5.10KM Section 4A: CH.23+400 – CH.26+400 & Section 4B: CH.13+100 – CH.15+200, awarded 4th April, 2024 but commenced 6th May, 2024, with contract no.8490, being handled by Sailthrough Construction Limited at a contract sum of N8.81 billion, a N 2,645,685,026.18 advance granted, 1.18km translating to 22.40 per cent of the length has been achieved, leaving an outstanding of 3.92KM, and a time lapse of 739.76 per cent.
The tour was concluded at the Obajana Junction where the Dualisation of the Obajana Junction – Benin road is ongoing, with a pair of overhead bridges at the junction (CH 00). This section 1 is being handled by CGC, Nigeria Limited with a contract sum of N205 million. The length of the project is 59 kilometres, multiplied by 2 making 108.
The percentage completion is 38, while time lapse is 90 percent.
The major complaint there from the contractor was lack of funding, the Controller, SSA, and director, Press in the ministry that it was actually among the inherited Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) funded projects whose funding had stopped.
According to them, Mr President had directed that all NNPC projects be funded by the Renewed Hope Development Infrastructure Fund, and money is being expected from there which as soon as approved, will be made available to the contractors, so they have to do all they can to ensure that they execute the project in due time, assured that they will be paid.
The SSA said, “I think it has been addressed. Mr President has shown commitment. I think one of the things we look at when we give project to contractor is about your capacity.
“It shouldn’t be about your financial capacity. Mr President assured that Renew Hope Intervention Fund will be channeled to pay the bill. So it’s about you as a contractor to go ahead and finish your job as agreed.
“Because if you mentioned that you didn’t have financial capacity to do this, they wouldn’t have awarded the contract to you. It’s because you assured us that you are going to finish this job. Mr President assured that the Renew Hope Fund will be channelled to pay for all this.
“So there shouldn’t be a delay. So wherever you can mop up funds, I can assure you that Mr President is going to pay, because this project is very critical.
“People are waiting for the completion of this project to ease movement. So please and please, we don’t want to come back the next time and be saying this.
“We have assured you of Mr President’s commitment and also the Minister of Works is also committed. But show us what you are made of. Show us your capacity that you can finish this job.
Adding to that, Ahmed Mohammed, the spokesman of the ministry said, “The minister has always made it clear clear that all NNPC projects whose funding has stopped, you guys should not stop work as the federal government will not stop funding them.
“So there is money to be channelled to this project. Your only choice is to do your work, get your certificate across, then we’ll pay you.”