…Debunks claims of Northern marginalisation in road infrastructure projects
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, has ordered the immediate termination of the contract awarded to Levant Construction Ltd for the reconstruction of the Benin-Sapele-Warri Road (Section 1: Benin–Imasabor), citing non-performance.
Speaking at a meeting with the Chief Executives of GELD Construction Ltd and SKECC Nigeria Ltd in Abuja, the Minister expressed deep dissatisfaction over the failure of Levant Construction to meet its obligations under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme.
According to the Minister, Levant had failed to resume work on its section despite several warnings and a final termination notice issued by the Ministry. “We gave them a series of warning letters. We also gave them the last termination notice. When a termination notice is given, the contractor is expected to return to site within 14 days. They did not respond,” Umahi said.
He directed the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry to officially terminate the contract, initiate a joint measurement exercise, and notify the company’s bank to trigger the refund of the Advance Payment Guarantee (APG). He added that failure to comply would result in the matter being transferred to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The Minister also held talks with SKECC Nigeria Ltd and Geld Construction Ltd regarding delays in their respective sections of the project. He said both companies had committed to returning to site, adding that terms had been reached to accommodate current cost escalations. He noted that while SKECC had completed preliminary works but faced funding constraints, Geld Construction had agreed to a review of its contract and would resume work on both the Benin-Warri and Lokoja-Abuja road projects.
Umahi commended Governor Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State and Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State for their interventions in critical portions of the road project. He said the state governments had undertaken complementary works, with Edo State handling a 23-kilometre stretch and Delta State committing to an additional 10 kilometres of concrete pavement.
Reacting to criticisms from groups alleging that the North is being marginalised in the allocation of road projects, Umahi described the claims as unfounded and misleading. He maintained that the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has continued all inherited projects and distributed new ones evenly across the six geopolitical zones.
He cited several large-scale infrastructure projects currently ongoing in the North, including the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano expressway valued at ₦777 billion, the 750-kilometre Sokoto-Zamfara-Katsina-Kaduna road (₦825 billion), and the BUA Cement Tax Credit Scheme route covering Jigawa, Kano and Katsina (256 kilometres). He added that the North currently accounts for 52 percent of the four Renewed Hope Legacy Projects under President Tinubu, while the South holds 48 percent.
On the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West Road in Rivers State, Umahi confirmed that one carriageway has been completed and clarified that ongoing asphalt work on the same lane was for temporary traffic flow where flyovers are under construction. He said the contractor, RCC, was now performing to standard after initial delays.
The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Ministry of Works to deliver infrastructure projects that reflect the vision of the Renewed Hope administration. He praised President Tinubu’s leadership and inclusiveness, stating that the Ministry does not consider regional origin in project execution but focuses on national development and road connectivity across Nigeria.
