The Minister for Works and Housing, David Umahi, has revealed the Federal Government’s plan to tackle all road challenges in 2024.
Umahi on Thursday said the FG has promised to address all obstacles hindering the delivery of road projects in Nigeria.
He added that this is to ensure the actualization of road projects to the benefit of Nigerians before the end of the year 2024.
The Works Minister said this during his meeting with Directors in Abuja and urged them to be up and doing in working to ensure that the vision for sustainable road infrastructure development in the country by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in line with Renewed Hope Agenda is achieved.
Umahi also proposed a review of agreements, cost, and geo-technical evaluation among others of some of the existing contracts.
He said this is to address the obstacles that have delayed or hindered the execution of road projects across Nigeria in the past.
“Mr. President approved huge, large sum of money for the Ministry in the appropriation in order for the Ministry to deliver its mandate,” Umahi said.
“We have some supervisions work to be done on roads, the Directors and the Consultants must work together and any erring contractors that don’t keep to contract agreement would be penalized.
“I won’t be able to go back to Mr. President and Federal Executive Council for re-scope of work and contract if the contractors deliberately delay the progress of road construction.”
Speaking further on the road projects, he said what matters most is how much of roads has been constructed or made motorable to ease the sufferings of Nigerians when it comes to mobility.
Reiterating his commitment to the welfare of the workers, Umahi however warned that irrespective of position or social status, any worker who is found wanting in terms of performance risks being kept aside or outrightly replaced.
The Minister told directors that there is a difference between his ministry and other ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
According to him, this is due to the fact that the Works Ministry is measured in terms of how much and the impact of the roads constructed.
“The difference between us and other MDAs is that ours is what you can achieve in terms of roads, not speech,” the former governor of Ebonyi state said.
“Also, our office is not the normal civil service office where you spend eight hours and close, at times you need to even work at weekend and anyone who works would be appreciated.”
Umahi also appealed to the directors to be God-fearing in handling the assignment of the ministry.
He further disclosed that the President had made available the needed funds for the execution of road contracts but that there was need for the review of the contract terms due to previous experiences.
