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By Daniel Adaji
Contractors handling the Lokoja–Anyigba and Okene–Itobe federal roads in Kogi State risk losing their contracts after failing to deliver on agreed timelines despite receiving billions of naira in advance payments.
The Minister of Works, Sen. David Umahi, issued the warning on Thursday during a meeting with the contractors at the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. He expressed displeasure that the firms had recorded less than 2% progress on projects that were supposed to have been completed in 2024.
Umahi emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope administration is committed to a road infrastructure revolution anchored on quality, speed, and value for money.
“The Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR is committed to road infrastructure revolution anchored on the core values of quality, speed and value for money in project delivery,” he said.
On the Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe dual carriageway, awarded in 2022 to CCECC Nigeria Ltd, the minister said the contractor had executed only 1.97% of the 52.27km road despite collecting N2.5bn as advance payment. He ordered the Director of Highways, North Central, to issue a warning letter demanding that work must resume within 30 days.
“The contractor must resume work on the site (using the old rate) to achieve a milestone that is commensurate with the money they received, after which the balance of the job yet to be done would be mutually terminated,” Umahi stated. He explained that the outstanding sections would be re-procured for enhanced funding and faster execution.
On the Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Anyigba road, awarded to TEC Engineering Company Nig Ltd in 2022, Umahi said only 1.04% of the job had been done despite an advance payment of ₦1 billion. He gave the contractor until December 2025 to lay at least 3km of asphalt. After that milestone, the job would be terminated on mutual terms, with payments assessed at old and new rates depending on budget year allocations.
The minister also disclosed that consultancy contracts on both projects would be terminated to allow for new procurements once the roads are re-awarded.
Present at the meeting were senior officials of the Federal Ministry of Works, including Engr. I. D. Daikwo, Director, Highway North Central; Engr. I. U. Usman, Deputy Director; Mr. Mohammed A. Ahmed, Director Press and Public Relations; and Engr. Gana Musa Patiko, Federal Controller of Works, Kogi State.
Also in attendance were the contractors’ representatives—Mr. Shaun of TEC Engineering Company Nig Ltd and Mr. Zhou of CCECC Nig Ltd—as well as project consultants Mr. Sesan Adeboyejo and Engr. Ene Wakama. The Kogi State government was represented by the Commissioner for Works, Engr. Muhammed Yusuf.