Transporters and travelers alike will have to brace for continued hardship as the Federal Government on Wednesday announced the termination of several key road infrastructure contracts in Kogi state, including the Okene-Ajaokuta road project, a major artery connecting strategic economic hubs.
David Umahi, minister of works, disclosed this after meeting with selected contractors handling critical federal road projects in the state. He cited poor and stalled progress on key sections of the Abuja–Lokoja and Okene–Ajaokuta corridors as main reason for the termination.
Mohammed Ahmed, Director of Press and Public Relations, representing the minister, decried the alarming disparity between contract timelines and actual work done. He noted that only 2.02 percent of work has been done so far on the Okene–Ajaokuta project awarded to CCECC Nigeria Ltd.
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According to him, the terminated projects include the provision of culverts and drains along Abuja–Lokoja (Section 2, 3 km); the rehabilitation of Abuja–Lokoja Section 4A (CH. 23+400 – CH. 26+400); and the reconstruction of Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe Road.
Others are the rehabilitation of Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Ayingba Road and Abuja–Lokoja Section IVB (flooded section).
He said, “The Federal Government terminated five contracts across different sections of the Abuja–Lokoja–Dekina and Okene–Ajaokuta highways. The terminated projects include those being handled by Sadogi Nigeria Limited, which is the provision of culverts and drains along Abuja–Lokoja (Section 2, 3 km).
“The progress of the contract is 39.04 per cent, and its time elapsed is at 112.88 per cent. The contract is terminated, and the contractor is to work only within the advance payment already received. The final account is to be determined afterwards.
“Also, the Venus Construction Nigeria Ltd’s project, which is the rehabilitation of Abuja–Lokoja Section 4A (CH. 23+400 – CH. 26+400). The progress of work is 33.79 per cent.The contract is an immediate mutual termination, and the contractor is restricted to the advance payment earlier released pending final account reconciliation.
“CCECC Nigeria Ltd’s contract for the reconstruction of the Okene–Ajaokuta–Itobe Road is also terminated. The progress of work is at 2.02 per cent. It was terminated due to non-performance. Supervisory consultancy services were also terminated due to a lack of funding,” he said.
The TEC Engineering Company Nigeria Ltd’s project, which is the rehabilitation of Lokoja–Shintaku–Dekina–Ayingba Road, whose progress of work is at 1.04 per cent, is also terminated.
The minister however, ordered Geld/Triacta Nigeria Limited (JV), handling Section III of the Abuja–Lokoja dualisation (Abaji–Koton Karfe) to return to the site within seven days.
