The Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, has expressed confidence in the competence of the contractor handling the re-awarded Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road project, after the contract was revoked from Julius Berger. Umahi clarified that the new contractor is Infiouest International Nigeria Limited, not InfoQuest Nigeria Limited as previously misreported by a national daily,leadership reports.
Speaking during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, Umahi accused some contractors of deliberately delaying projects to demand higher payments when material prices increase. Addressing allegations that the project was awarded to an inactive company, he noted that sections of the road delivered by Julius Berger were already showing signs of failure.
He criticized Julius Berger for publishing misleading information following the contract termination, stating that the company had failed to resolve issues related to timelines and pricing after 14 months and over 20 meetings with the Ministry of Works. Umahi also alleged that Julius Berger was attempting to incite public discontent against the federal government.
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“Julius Berger lacks the necessary equipment and is living on past glory,” he said. “They claim to have completed 65% of the project, covering 750 kilometers, with N391 billion paid to them. Yet, they are demanding an additional N1.1 trillion to complete the remaining 35% without any additional work.”
Umahi defended the government’s decision to disaggregate the project after Julius Berger failed to meet the 14-month deadline for completing the remaining 240 kilometers. Sections 1 and 3 of the road were subsequently awarded under a tax credit scheme. However, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu later directed the Ministry of Works to complete the project without the tax credit system, expanding the scope to include the Aminu Kano International Airport road and other improvements such as solar lighting.
The project, now covering 119 kilometers, was re-awarded for N252.9 billion, significantly lower than the N3.12 billion per kilometer Julius Berger had requested. “We are using reinforced concrete to ensure durability and align with the president’s vision for sustainable road infrastructure,” Umahi said.
He also criticized Julius Berger’s handling of the Bodo-Bonny Road project, accusing the company of reneging on a prior agreement and demanding an additional N80 billion for completion. Despite negotiations involving top government officials, Umahi expressed skepticism about the contractor meeting its September completion deadline.
The minister condemned contractors who delay projects to exploit inflation, noting that these tactics result in higher costs for the government and suffering for citizens due to accidents and delays. He emphasized that stricter conditions would be enforced for contractors to claim variations on pricing.
Umahi concluded by warning against public incitement by contractors, urging stakeholders to focus on delivering results. “The true measure of success lies in the quality of work delivered, not in endless debates and delays,” he said.
