The Federal Government has overturned its instruction to halt repair work at the Eleme-Onne portion of the East-West Road in Rivers State.
It also directed the impacted contractor, Renolds Construction Company, to resume work on all project parts immediately and in strict accordance with the contract requirements.
Earlier on Sunday, during an unexpected visit to the project site, Minister of Works David Umahi expressed disappointment with the poor pace of work, despite the government’s advance payment of N33 billion.
Umahi stated that the injunction became necessary due to the contractor’s usage of substandard materials on the project.
However, the revised instruction, contained in a statement signed by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Orji Uchenna, on Monday, stated that the minister reversed its decision after meeting with the Permanent Secretary and top Ministry Directors at the ministry headquarters in Abuja.
The statement read,
“The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has directed Mrss Renolds Construction Company RCC, Nigeria Limited to immediately resume work on the 15 km Eleme to Onne Junction on the East-West Road, Rivers State which he suspended during his unscheduled inspection visit to the project site on 27th January 2024, due to observed infractions on the construction specifications.
“This directive is in accordance with the resolutions reached in a meeting with the Permanent Secretary and key Directors of the Ministry together with the management of RCC Ltd at his office at the Federal Ministry of Works, Mabushi- Abuja, this 29th January 2024. The Honourable 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 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 current administration and he is unbending in his resolve not to accept the delivery of jobs that fall short of standard.”