Umahi Queries Contractor as Flood Destroys Newly Rehabilitated Kano-Maiduguri Highway

• Minister David Umahi expressed concern over the damaged Kano-Maiduguri highway, emphasizing the need for accountability in road construction projects
• Umahi criticized the one-year liability period for road projects, stating it is insufficient for ensuring quality and durability of completed roads

The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has expressed deep concern over the destruction of section three of the newly rehabilitated Kano-Maiduguri highway, which was damaged by flooding. In a statement released by his media aide, Orji Uchenna Orji, Umahi lamented that newly completed roads in Nigeria often fail to last even five years.

Umahi announced that a technical team from the Ministry of Works had been dispatched to evaluate the damaged road on the spot. He promised to find a lasting solution to the problem and emphasized the need for greater accountability in road construction projects. He also revealed the termination of section 1 of the Kano-Maiduguri road, which was awarded to Dantata & Sawoe Ltd in 2007, citing the expiration of the contract period.

“I am directing the Director of Highway Rehabilitation to liaise with the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Works to deploy some technical people to evaluate the situation immediately,” Umahi said. “It’s very unfortunate that when contractors complete a job, we don’t even enjoy the road for five years before we are back to square one.”

Umahi criticized the current one-year liability period for road projects, arguing that it is insufficient to ensure the quality and durability of the roads. He called on Mothercart Ltd, the contractor responsible for section three of the Kano-Maiduguri road, to join the technical team and investigate why the flood so severely damaged the road.

During a performance review meeting with representatives from Dangote Group, BUA Group, and Mainstream Energy Solutions Ltd, Umahi discussed the road projects handled under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme. He highlighted the progress made in funding critical projects under this scheme. Still, he stressed the need for contractors to complete the awarded projects on time, given their importance to the nation’s economic corridors.

Moving forward, Umahi said there would be agreements on milestone completion and timetables for the various ongoing projects being executed under the tax credit scheme to ensure durability and value for money.