Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed satisfaction with the pace and quality of work being executed by indigenous contractors on major federal highway projects initiated by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration, describing their performance as evidence of Nigeria’s growing local engineering capacity.
Speaking on Friday during an inspection of ongoing works on
a section of the Calabar corridor of the President’s legacy road programme,
Umahi said Nigerian construction firms have demonstrated strong commitment to
national development, often continuing work even before receiving mobilization
payments.
According to the minister, the corridor forms part of the
first stretch of the 465-kilometre highway project that will eventually link
southern Nigeria to the Federal Capital Territory, creating a strategic
transport and economic corridor.
He noted that several indigenous contractors engaged by the
Federal Ministry of Works have continued construction activities despite not
yet receiving mobilization funds.
“Many of these local contractors have shown remarkable
patriotism. Some of them have not been mobilized with funds yet, but they are
already working.
“At least eight indigenous contractors under the Federal
Ministry of Works are currently executing projects without mobilization,” Umahi
said.
He contrasted their approach with that of some expatriate
companies which, according to him, often delay work while assessing political
and economic conditions before committing resources.
“These indigenous firms see themselves as partners in
nation-building.
“Companies like Hitech Construction Company and others have
shown that Nigerian contractors can deliver projects with the same level of
professionalism and quality as foreign firms,” he added.
The minister explained that the project begins from Calabar
and stretches from Ndibe Beach through Afikpo, Amasiri and Onueke, before
connecting through the South-South and South-East corridors and eventually
linking to Ukwachi (Ndiebor Ishieke) and the old Enugu–Abakaliki road.
From there in his words, the road continues through Mbeke
Ishieke and terminates at the boundary between Ebonyi and Benue states.
He said that the section one of the project covers
approximately 125.5 kilometres with a contract value of about N454 billion.
Umahi disclosed that the Federal Government has already paid
30 per cent of the contract sum, in line with the Engineering, Procurement,
Construction and Finance (EPC+F) funding model adopted for the project.
Under the arrangement, the Federal Government provides 30
per cent of the funding, while contractors source the remaining 70 per cent
through financing.
The road is being constructed with concrete pavement
technology, which the minister said is expected to last up to 100 years with
minimal maintenance.
“Concrete pavement has come to stay in Nigeria because of
its durability. With the quality of materials being used, these roads will last
for decades,” he said.
Umahi disclosed that the project includes major bridge
infrastructure, including a 25-span bridge structure measuring about 700 metres
and another bridge of approximately 1.5 kilometres.
The bridge components are being installed using an advanced
launching system in which cranes move along the piers to position beams without
ground-based operations.
He said the superstructure works are already at advanced
stages and expressed optimism that the project could be completed earlier than
the official 36-month timeline if the current pace is sustained.
“If the contractors continue at this speed and the timeline
is extended by about nine months, the project can be completed earlier than
scheduled,” he said.
The minister added that about 11 kilometres of dual
carriageway have already been completed along parts of the corridor.
He also directed contractors to establish an additional
concrete production plant at Onueke to accelerate work from multiple fronts.
Umahi noted that the project forms part of four major legacy
infrastructure corridors being implemented by the Tinubu administration across
the country.
He explained that the road will eventually connect with the
Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway, creating an integrated transport network across
several regions.
Other related projects include the Second Niger Bridge
Bypass, a 17.5-kilometre dual carriageway estimated at about N170 billion, as
well as sections of the Enugu–Onitsha Expressway currently under
reconstruction.
According to him, part of the Enugu–Onitsha road project
covering 107 kilometres is being executed by MTN Nigeria under the Federal
Government’s tax credit scheme, while another 92-kilometre section is being
handled by Sinohydro Construction Company Limited using concrete pavement
technology.
He revealed that about 50 per cent of the concrete section
has already been completed.
Umahi also acknowledged the role played by state authorities
in facilitating the projects, particularly in resolving issues related to
compensation for affected properties.
He commended the Ebonyi State Government for paying
compensation to property owners along some project corridors, which he said
made it easier for contractors to commence work.
“In cases where contractors have not yet been mobilized,
they cannot handle compensation payments. That is where the support of state
governments becomes critical,” he said.
The minister further disclosed that additional compensation
payments are being processed for property owners affected by planned road
expansion and dualization works in some communities.
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