Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian government, under President Bola Tinubu’s leadership, has announced the termination of contracts for sections of the Obajana-Benin Road. This decision, made public on Monday, affects contracts managed by construction firms MotherCat, Dantata & Sawoe, and RCC.
Reason for Termination
The contracts were cancelled due to the non-performance of the companies involved. According to a statement by Orji Uchenna, Special Adviser (Media) to the Minister of Works, the termination was necessitated by significant delays and the contractors’ failure to meet their contractual obligations.
Government Response
Minister of Works David Umahi directed engineers to take over the construction sites and measure the work completed so far to facilitate the transition from the non-performing companies. He noted that these contracts, valued at billions of naira, were awarded in 2012 but had been abandoned, causing significant hardship for road users due to the deteriorating condition of the road.
Official Statement
“The government will not tolerate acts of unseriousness and sabotage by contractors,” Minister Umahi stated. “Going forward, all funded but non-performing contracts shall be terminated.”
This decisive action is seen as a bold step by the Renewed Hope administration to address Nigeria’s infrastructure challenges. “We will not condone any act that will hinder our progress. We are determined to change the narrative of Nigeria’s road infrastructure,” Umahi added.
Details of Terminated Contracts
The terminated contracts are as follows:
- Contract No. 6136 with MotherCat Ltd for the dualisation of the Obajana-Benin road, section II (Okene-Auchi) in Kogi/Edo State.
- Contract No. 6137 with Dantata & Sawoe Construction Ltd for the dualisation of the Obajana-Benin road, section III (Auchi-Ehor) in Edo State.
- Contract No. 6138 with RCC Ltd for the dualisation of the Obajana-Benin road, section IV (Ehor-Benin) in Edo State.