On Friday, Minister of Works Dave Umahi has put Levant Construction Company on notice, stating that the multi-billion naira Benin/Sapele and Ologbo road reconstruction project could face cancellation if the company fails to adhere strictly to the specified scope and standards.
The minister voiced dissatisfaction with the ongoing work and promptly instructed the ministry’s supervising engineers to draft a warning letter for the contractors to be issued on Monday.
Umahi made it clear that contract termination loomed if the contractor failed to fulfill their responsibilities.
While inspecting federal road projects in Edo State, the minister denounced contractors for engaging in political gamesmanship at the expense of Nigerians, asserting his zero-tolerance stance for such conduct under his leadership.
He said, “By Monday, give them a warning letter to start permanent work, and if, by Monday, they didn’t start, give 14 days’ notice of termination. We paid multi-billion naira for this job and we have seen that a lot of contractors in this country are just playing politics with us.
“We will pay mobilisation fee to a contractor, we will never pay variation on price for that amount we have paid and that is the problem with Levant, and after 14 days of notice of termination, if they don’t adhere to the term of the contract, I will come and terminate the job myself.
“You cannot do this kind of job in your country; it can only happen in Africa. You can’t collect our money and be misbehaving like this. It is a big shame; look at how people are suffering everywhere and we should be happy clapping for you. I have had more than 10 meetings with them on this job,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Ondo State Government has begun the constitution of roads in the rural areas in the three senatorial districts of the state, under the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Project.
It has been reported that the project, officially commenced on Friday under the leadership of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, seeks to streamline the transportation of agricultural produce to urban areas.
Speaking at the inauguration of the N1.2 billion project in Oda community within the Akure South Local Government Area, Aiyedatiwa underscored the government’s commitment to advancing the progress of rural areas in the state.
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He stated that the road project would commence with the construction of a 15.5km stretch, traversing the Oda Cocoa Board – Camp 2 – Lagbido road within the local government area.
He said, “From the inception of our administration, we made deliberate efforts to put in place several life-changing programmes and projects geared towards improving the livelihood and living standard of our teeming farming population.
“It was our resolve that the government needed to do more in the rural areas of Ondo State and I am glad that the road project being flagged is not only fulfilling this position but marking the commencement of the construction of several rural roads by RAAMP.
“Let me reiterate our commitment to the development of the grassroots and by extension the people of Ondo State, I am using this medium to assure you that we shall continue to embark on more developmental projects for the benefit of our people”.
Addressing the audience, Femi Adetanmi, the state Project Coordinator of RAAMP, disclosed that the project had been earmarked with a budget of N1.2 billion and was slated to be finished within an 18-month timeframe.
He clarified that the roads were intended to be beneficial to the populace of Ondo State, enabling farmers to efficiently transport their harvests and merchandise, thus contributing to the alleviation of food scarcity.