Date Published: 07/19/09

Sir,

Julius Berger: Indispensable only in Nigeria 

Julius Berger is not the only foreign construction company in Nigeria but its name continues a common denominator in most cloudy issues. Julius Berger is known to have had more than its fair share in construction contracts in Nigeria – at federal and state levels. It was that foreign construction company once described by an international Construction Magazine as having the largest construction site in the whole world; the publication referred to the company’s site in Abuja, then. 

Julius Berger has been fingered in many bad deals in Nigeria, yet the government has found it difficult to suspend patronizing this firm that most Nigerians know milks us dry, with the connivance of people in some people in power. 

Some of the company's alleged sins: It was figured by the National Assembly in illegal mining and exportation of our mineral resources. It was the company that took in advance billions of Naira which it kept in an interest-yielding bank account for construction of a portion of the East-West Road; they abandoned the projects for years. It was fingered as a conduit for part of the Halliburton bribe money. It was alleged by the opposition that this company was used in bribing the Judges at the Apeal Court during the Akwa Ibom governorship proceedings. Again, on pages of national dailies July 15, 2009 was the report that it was dragged to Court by the Federal Government for disrespectfully importing contrabands into Nigeria; this is the height of criminal irresponsibility. Also JB does not treat its Nigerian workers with respect.

One then is asking to know whether this Julius Berger is indispensible.  Why can’t Nigerian Governments create their own indigenous construction giants by empowering many abound?

Engineer Tunde Abayomi, Adeola Odekun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.