FG tasks contractors to ensure quality work

The Minister of Works, Sen. Dave Umahi has urged contractors handling Federal Government’s projects to ensure quality work to fast track sustainable infrastructure development in the country.

Umahi stated this during an inspection of the failed sections of Kano-Maiduguri expressway, on Thursday in Azare, Bauchi State.

He said the federal government would redesigned the project to provide quality and durable road.

“We will redesign the project, and work will start immediately.

“We will provide five relief culverts and put retaining walls on both sides with an 8 inch concrete and nothing will happen when we finish it,” he said.

The minister lamented that the stone base used on the road was not good, warning that the ministry would not condone poor work by contractors.

“No contractor is allowed to do bad work for the federal government. We will not accept bad work.

“The ministry of works should be very careful in the supervision of work,” he said.

Umahi said the federal government would also terminate the contract for Section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri expressway between Kano and Dutse.

The measure, he said, was imperative as the project could not be completed in the last 17 years.

Umahi further said that President Bola Tinubu directed him to inspect failed sections of the road cut-off by flood in Bauchi and Jigawa.

“We are here to make sure that the roads are completely rehabilitated, and we have brought new designs that will tackle the problems once and for all.

“The president is very committed to solving most of the plight of the people, especially as regards to roads because he knows the economic importance of the roads to the economic growth in the country, especially in the Northeast,” he said.

He commended Gov. Bala Mohammed for the palliative work on the road, designed to provide access road and ease movement of goods and services.

Also speaking, Mohammed lauded President Tinubu for the prompt intervention to repair the roads.

The governor pledged continued support to the federal government’s policies and programmes.

On his part, Mr Bashir Adamu, the Federal Controller of Works, Bauchi State, said the flood cut-off sections of the roads in different locations of the Kano-Maidiguri expressway.

He listed the affected sections to include Jama’are-Azare; Azare-Shira-Yana, Azare-Misau, and Bauchi-Ningi-Babaldu.

“The contractor Messrs Mothercat Nigeria Ltd, who constructed the road initially and handed over on Aug. 18, 2023, who happened to be in Azare town has already provided accesss road on one lane.

“The road is memorable and open to traffic,” he said.