Benin-Lokoja Road: FG gives marching order to contractors to commence work or face saction

 

The Federal Government has given contractors handling the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella-Okene-Lokoja road a deadline to commence rehabilitation work on the road immediately. 

The Hon. Minister of Works, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, issued the directive during his inspection visit to the various project sites in Edo State on Saturday, March 9th, 2024. 

The Minister warned that any contractor who failed to mobilize and start work on the project would have their contracts terminated and be blacklisted. The delay in the contractors mobilizing to site despite the release of funds by the Federal Government was deemed unacceptable by the Minister. 

Speaking after a meeting with the Governor of Edo State, Goodwin Obaseki, the Minister described as unacceptable the delay of the contractors in fully mobilizing to site and effectively commencing rehabilitation work despite Mr. President’s prompt release of funds to them for the projects.

On the recent protest along the Jattu axis of the Benin-Auchi highway by the residents of the area, disrupted vehicular movements, the Minister said that his meeting with Governor was to brainstorm on the drastic measures to tackle the issues affecting the progress of work in the area.

“I have had a very serious meeting with the Governor here. We are concerned about what is happening between Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi- Okpella and the axis of Kogi State. That is what we have been brainstorming on.

“I have worked with him throughout last night to direct that the road should be unblocked, and if you see the grievances of those people you will not blame them so much, because people are dying, trucks are falling”.

In response, Governor Obaseki expressed gratitude towards the Minister of Works' dedication to the development of road infrastructure in Nigeria. He also pledged his administration's support to the concrete technology initiative, which he believes is the best model for the road infrastructure in the East West and other parts of the country.

“First, let me thank my brother and very good friend, the Honourable Minister of Works, who you know is an engineer par excellence, for the concern he has shown. Same time last year when I cried for help ahead of the rainy reason, we didn’t get this kind of response.”

“We shall not continue to use expensive asphalt to do our roads.

“We should use sustainable local materials; we produce cement and steel, there is no reason why we can not begin to move towards utilizing more concrete in building our roads for sustainability so that our roads can last longer”

The minister also expressed concern about the recent protest along Jattu axis of Benin -Auchi highway by residents of the area which disrupted vehicular movements resulted from non-acceleration of works by the contractors.

"We are concerned about what is happening between Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella and axis of Kogi State. It's what we have been brainstorming on. I have worked with the Governor that the road should be unblocked, because if you see the grievances of the people you will not blame them too much. People are dying and trucks also falling."

Before his departure, the Minister also inspected the Lokoja -Benin Road Dualization Projects, section IV, Benin – Ehor road handled by RCC Nig. Ltd; the section III, Ehor – Auchi in Edo State handled by Dantata & Sawoe Nig. Ltd; and the section II, Auchi – Okene in Edo/Kogi States handled by Mothercat Nig. Ltd.