FG threatens to replace contractor in Edo road

The Federal Government has threatened to terminate the Benin/Sapele and Ologbo Road Development Project in Edo State for non-compliance with specific budget and performance.

The government accuses the Levantine construction company of being responsible for political activity despite receiving a salary.

Minister of Works, David Umahi, while inspecting the federal highway in the state, expressed his dissatisfaction with the project.

On Monday he threatened to give contractors 14 days to make the project a reality or risk cancellation.

Umahi 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, and we have emphasised this on several occasions.

“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 come, 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. If anything goes wrong, they will call the President,” he added.