Obinna Uchendu Abakaliki
The Senate Committee on Works has issued Julius Berger Plc an ultimatum to appear before it on 6th December 2024 or will leave the committee with no other option than to issue a warrant of arrest on company.
In a motion moved and adopted during the investigative hearing, the Senate resolved that it would not hesitate to carry out the order should it fail to appear before it as scheduled.
Moving the motion, a member of the Committee, Sen. Asuquo Ekpenyong said “Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Limited is not here. Now, my understanding is that Messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc bidded, was selected, and awarded this job.
“Funds from taxpayers across this country were disbursed to them. Our understanding is that they showed up on site for a brief period and have since abandoned the site. It is our collective resolve as a committee that under the new Minister’s rule, Julius Berger should be produced to this committee in 24 hours by 2 p.m, the 6th of December, 2024.
“Failure of which will lead to our invoking our constitutional powers and issuing a warrant of arrest on messrs. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Works, Senator, Barinada Mpigi commended President Bola Tinubu for tackling the challenges that inhibit road infrastructure development in Nigeria.
He made the commendation during an investigative hearing of the Committee on contractors’ slow pace of work on the Odukpani-Aba-Odukpani-Ikot Ekpene and other sections ending at Benin.
Others roads under investigation includes the Odukpani-Itu Highway, the Eket Bypass, Port Harcourt – Ahoada, Ahoada – Kaiama, and Port Harcourt – Onne Junction Sections of the East-West Road.
He commended the Federal Ministry of Works for the technical innovations they have brought to the construction industry and warned that it was no longer business as usual for contractors to collect tax payers’ money and would delay in completing the projects they were contracted to do or do a substandard job.
“In addition to his technical innovations, Senator Umahi has demonstrated remarkable decisiveness in identifying and addressing non-performing contracts. His actions in revoking underperforming agreements and ensuring that public funds are redirected to more capable contractors reflect a deep commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of this administration.
“This agenda prioritizes infrastructure as the backbone of economic revitalization, and we, in the Senate, will support every step taken to ensure its success.”
He decried the hardship contractors’ behaviour has caused road users adding that the deplorable condition of the roads has resulted in devastating consequences. “Precious lives have been lost, not just on the highway but also among those forced to seek alternative routes through treacherous river crossings.
“The tragic accident near the Mini Itu bridgehead in Odukpani Local Government Area, which claimed five lives, is a stark reminder of the urgency of this issue.” He warned that the era of such behaviours of contractors had gone. “Contractors, including RCC, have received substantial funds, including the N15 billion that was injected into this project, yet delivery remains elusive.
“The other stretch of the East-West Road has contractors like RCC, Setraco, and Gitto who have been paid billions, yet the pace of work is far from acceptable.
Speaking during the event, the Minister of Works commended the Senate leadership, Senate Committee on Works and the 10th NASS for placing a watch on the contractors to ensure value for money, speedy and quality delivery of all the road projects of this administration.
He commended the President of Nigeria very highly for giving priority attention to the completion of the inherited ongoing projects and for the vision that informed the initiative to construct the four Legacy projects cutting across the 6 Geo-political zones of the country. Ends.
