The Federal Government, under the Ministry of Works, has announced the availability of N431 billion for contractors working on various road dualization projects across the country. This announcement was made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, during a meeting with the contractors and zonal directors of the ministry in Abuja.
Minister Umahi also mentioned the ministry’s intention to focus on many of the dualized roads in the country and emphasized the need for contractors to clear their certificates for payments. He revealed that there is N431 billion in funds ready for contractors but noted that certificates are required for processing payments. Additionally, the minister introduced a performance bond, which means that all new projects will be guaranteed for a period of 10 years.
The minister urged contractors to stick to one lane if their project has not reached 50% completion and encouraged them to cooperate in building roads with concrete technology, similar to practices in countries like India and Singapore.
Furthermore, Minister Umahi expressed concern about the quality and durability of some roads constructed in the past and encouraged contractors to write to the ministry if their roads are not expected to last for at least 10 years, suggesting that they either stop work or rebuild the road to meet the durability standard.
In conclusion, the Ministry of Works has made funds available for road construction projects, and the government is focused on improving the quality and longevity of the country’s road infrastructure. Contractors are urged to cooperate and adhere to the specified standards to ensure the successful completion of these projects.