We won’t accept shoddy jobs, Umahi warns road contractors

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will not accept substandard road projects, Works Minister David Umahi yesterday warned contractors handling federal roads.

He said the resolve of the President informed his decision to suspend Messrs. Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Nigeria Limited, the contractor handling the 15-kilometre Eleme-Onne Junction on the East-West Road, Rivers State during his unscheduled inspection visit to site at the weekend.

The minister suspended the contractor over alleged violations of the construction specifications.

However, in a statement by his spokesman, Uchenna Orji, the minister ordered the contractor back to site and resume work.

The decision followed the resolution the issues at stake during a meeting between the minister, the management team of the Works Ministry and RCC representatives.

Umahi reiterated that any further work on the project must strictly adhere to the contract specifications.

The statement reads: “The minister had ordered the suspension of work on the project due to substandard jobs and invited the management of the company to report to the Ministry for resolution of technical issues.

“The minister further directs the contractors handling the project to resume work on the four sections of the project and in strict compliance with the contract specifications.

“They are also required to liaise with the permanent secretary and the director in charge of construction to engage with the representatives of the host communities on issues bothering on alleged infringement on the contractors’ right of way which according to them slows down the project.

“The Minister of Works is determined to see to the speedy and quality delivery of federal government’s jobs across the nation in line with the vision of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and he is unbending in his resolve not to accept the delivery of jobs that fall short of standard”.