Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City
The Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, yesterday threatened to terminate the multi-billion-naira Ologbo axis reconstruction of the dilapidated Benin-Sapele Highway if the contractors, Levant Construction Company, failed to comply strictly with the scope and specification of the work.
The enraged minister who expressed dissatisfaction at the scope and pace of work, subsequently ordered the ministry’s supervising engineers to issue a warning letter to the contractors on Monday.
He warned that should they fail to do the right job after 14 days, he would personally terminate the job.
Umahi, who was on an inspection tour of work done on federal roads, was received by officials of the Federal Ministry Works in Benin City and that of the Edo State Ministry of Roads and Bridges.
After inspecting the Benin-Ologbo axis, the former Ebonyi State governor lamented that contractors in the country were playing politics with Nigerians and warned that he would not tolerate such practice as minister.
“By Monday, give them a warning letter to start permanent work and if they don’t start, give them 14 days’ notice of termination. We paid multi-billion naira for this job and we have seen that a lot of contractors in this country are just playing politics with us and we have emphasised this severally.
“We will pay mobilisation fee to a contractor; we will never pay variation on price (VOP) for that amount we have paid and that is the problem with Levant and after 14 days of notice of termination I will come and terminate the job myself.
“You cannot do this kind of job in your country; it can only happen in Africa. You can’t collect our money and be misbehaving like this. It is a big shame; look at how people are suffering everywhere and we should be happy clapping for you. I have had more than 10 meetings with them on this job. If anything goes wrong, they will be calling the president,” Umahi added.
The minister continued with his inspection of the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi and Abuja Highway.
