The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has urged aggrieved foreign contractors to stop sabotaging the implementation of concrete road technology in Nigeria.

Umahi also noted that the ongoing plan to implement concrete road technology would not be sabotaged while he is in office.

Though the minister was reluctant to name the culprits, he vowed to clamp down on contractors cheating the Federal Government and Nigerians on the thickness of asphalt, denying them value for money.

Umahi, at the state house on Tuesday, had alleged connivance between non-compliant contractors and some members of his team to adopt the use of reinforced concrete, and that he had secured the president’s backing to proceed with the new policy.

He said, “You contractors cheat us on the thickness of asphalt. The bitumen imported is of bad quality and then you start putting enhancer and modifier. We don’t want that again, there is no such thing overseas. Use the type of asphalt used abroad.”

“I believe I have called enough meetings on this issue and we must move forward. Let me advise contractors that are meeting and have ganged up. We have learnt that some of you want to sabotage me to prove that concrete is not good. That is a lie, concrete is very good. Go to Lagos Seaport and see what the contractor is doing. Go to my state to see what I did. The roads are still there and perfect on concrete. It is very un-useful to you because there is no meeting that will make us back down on the principles and policy of the Ministry of Works. This policy has been set in motion and will only stop if I am removed from office by Mr President.”

The minister, speaking during a meeting with all contractors handling federal roads on Wednesday in Abuja, also instructed the contractors to mobilise to the site within 14 days or lose their contracts, warning that anyone who fails to return to the site within that deadline would be kicked out and replaced with local contractors.

“The first directive to all contractors is to go back to your site within 14 days and this directive is in line with the contract signed. Any contractors that flout this directive after 14 days will get a letter of termination personally signed by me. No more negotiation and this is very important. I am pleading that you respect our position and challenges and please move to the site to do permanent work. There is no need to pressure me, do your job and we will do the right thing. But after 14 days, if you refuse, you will see local contractors move to your site and they will do it.

“So please stop harassing me with the price quotation. We have set our prices. Even this morning, the directors met and increased the price and I accepted it. The price is only for Trunk A. Trunk B and C will not enjoy that price because it is going to be on a different design,” he instructed.

The minister further directed that any contractor with four projects will no longer be eligible to bid for any advertised jobs, and there won’t be any mobilisation for those who haven’t deployed yet.

As part of the strict measures for the use of asphalt, the minister said asphalt roads will enjoy only five per cent variations once and other costs incurred will not be approved by the ministry.

He noted, “Henceforth, any company that has four projects with the Ministry of Works will not get another project until he finishes the one awarded. Mr President just approved 60 projects and we will start the designing and the profiling, so if you can finish your jobs quickly, you will be part of the bidding but if you can’t finish your job, you can’t bid and we won’t differentiate between expatriate and local contractors. The house must submit to the new policy of the Federal Ministry of Works.

“Also, let me announce that we are going to deploy strict measures. Every contractor going back to the site must give us a programme of work. The ministry won’t process your certificate without a programme of work. Contractors that want a variation of price must prove what basis led to an increase in contract quantity. Without these steps, there is no payment.

“Condition number two for the use of asphalt is the 5 per cent variation on price and if you have exhausted your 5 per cent already. You cannot enjoy another five per cent. Inflation on asphalt work is on geometric progression. Price is increasing every day and there is no money to pay for these increases.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Indigenous Contractors of Nigeria have said its members are likely to incur losses on projects if the government does not approve augmentation request by contractors.

An official of the association, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also revealed that the works minister has asked for the submission of a request for approval.

The official said, “We will not incur losses if our contracts are augmented and the minister has instructed that we should all submit augmentation requests after giving design and new rates.” (The PUNCH)

Update news