The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has issued a strong warning to contractors handling Federal Government road projects, insisting that persistent delays and poor execution will no longer be tolerated and must not be used to blame President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for infrastructural setbacks.
The warning came on Tuesday during an inspection tour of ongoing federal road and bridge projects across Kogi and Edo States, where the Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the pace of work on key sections of the Abuja–Lokoja Dual Carriageway and the Obajana Junction–Benin road corridor.
Umahi, who described the Lokoja–Benin axis as a strategic national route linking the North and South, said the level of performance recorded on some sites fell short of expectations and did not reflect earlier reports submitted to the Ministry. He stressed that such gaps between documentation and physical progress would no longer be condoned.
According to him, funding constraints had already forced a reduction in scope on one section of the Abuja–Lokoja road, which was reviewed downward from 49.28 kilometres to 28 kilometres in order to concentrate available resources on priority segments of the project. “I am very sad with what I saw on the ground. What was reported to us is not reflected in the actual work being done,” he said, warning that contractors must ensure full compliance with contractual obligations going forward.
Reiterating the Ministry’s enforcement directive, Umahi insisted that no section of any federal highway under construction should remain closed for more than 14 days, adding that prolonged closures without meaningful progress would attract sanctions, including possible termination of contracts.
He also issued a 72-hour ultimatum to GELD Construction Company, which is handling part of the project along the corridor, directing the firm to immediately demonstrate improved utilisation of funds already released for the works.
While expressing dissatisfaction elsewhere, the Minister commended JRB Construction Company for what he described as commendable performance, noting that the company had shown professionalism and commitment in execution. He maintained that if all contractors adhered strictly to specifications, there would be no basis for shifting responsibility to the Presidency.
Umahi also inspected ongoing works being handled by Trucrete Solutions Limited along the Koton Karfe–Abuja axis, as well as bridge and carriageway upgrades spread across Kogi and Edo States. Particular attention was given to the Obajana Junction–Okene–Auchi stretch of the Lokoja–Benin dualisation project, where the Minister directed engineers and supervisors to intensify monitoring and ensure stricter accountability on timelines, quality, and expenditure.
He further assessed flyover and interchange works executed by CCG Contractors, noting that while flyover structures had reached about 80 percent completion, the interchange component lagged at roughly 30 percent.
Reaffirming the government’s position, Umahi stated that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inherited a heavily deteriorated road network but has continued to prioritise infrastructure renewal through sustained intervention and funding commitments.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Allwell Heacho Onyesoh, commended the Ministry’s firm stance, saying political office holders should no longer be held solely responsible for contractor inefficiency, while urging timely release of funds to sustain project momentum.
Similarly, the Chairman of the House Committee on Works, Akin Alabi, urged stakeholders to support ongoing reforms in the road sector, noting that infrastructure delivery remains a shared responsibility across government and contractors.
He assured that the Federal Government remains committed to meeting legitimate payment obligations, while also warning that contractors must reciprocate with performance or risk sanctions.
The Managing Director of GELD Construction Company, Mr. Fadi Azimi, assured the inspection team that the firm would intensify efforts and improve delivery in line with the Ministry’s expectations.
The Ministry of Works reiterated that it would continue to enforce strict supervision, accountability, and performance standards across all federal road projects, warning that non-performing contractors would face appropriate sanctions as part of efforts to accelerate completion of critical national infrastructure, particularly along the Lokoja–Benin corridor.
