Federal Government Begins Demolition Of Properties  Affected  By The Right  Of Way On Section 1 Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway, Says  Exercise Shall Have A Human  Face   The Honourable Minister  of Works, His Excellency,  Senator. (Engr) Dr. Nweze  David Umahi CON has assured  that the construction of Lagos- Calabar  Coastal Highway  being  handled  by Federal Government  under  His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR would mark a major milestone  in the Renewed Hope  roadmap towards economic  diversification. He gave this assurance  during  the flag-off of the demolition  of properties  affected  by the right of way on section  1 of  the  Lagos- Calabar Coastal Highway  being handled by Hitech Construction Company Ltd.  He said, the Federal Government  is  passionate about the plight of the people  and would, in the exercise  of the right of way, put a human face in the demotion of properties  that were required  to give way for the construction  of the coastal highway, noting that the Federal Government was  considering the most economically viable way to pass the coastal road without much damages. He further reassured that there would be no delay in the payment  of compensation to the property owners  entitled  to compensation but solicited  their cooperation to the timeline of the demolition  exercise. He said, "We are doing some minor adjustments, and our commitment is to stay  within the coastline. When the initial demolition order was passed to all the affected  investors, so to speak, I graciously  increased  the period  to another  seven days and yet another 4 days, and here we are because the project stopped because  of the part of  this demolition, and I want to commend  the likes of Mr Bolaji." While flagging -off the demolition  exercise, he said, "This demolition  is going  to have a pure human  face and so with the utmost  fear of Gid, gratitude  to God Almighty  and commitment  to the Renewed Hope agenda  of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR in our infrastructural development  in particular, I wish to flag-off this demolition  exercise to get a right  of way within  the coastal corridor  which  is the legitimate  right  of the Federal Government."  The Honourable Minister, however, called on all those to be affected  by the demolition  exercise  to take it as a sacrifice for the  ultimate  impact of the project on the economic  prosperity  of the nation. He highlighted  the socio- economic  benefits  of the project, including the money it will save for businessmen and women  and the stability  it will bring  to the economy. For those playing  poltics  with the economic  enhancing  project, he said, "Those who are playing  poltics with this can go ahead. My job is simple, just to pass the coastal  road and those who are into politics  can continue.."  Speaking  during  the event, one of the affected  property  owners, Mr.  Balaji Ariyo ( Mami Chula), said  the demolition  would no doubt  affect  his business  but he had no option than  to make  sacrifice for the greater good of millions of  Nigerians  whose livelihood  would  be impacted  by the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway  which has a spur that connects South to North. He urged all those to be affected  by this critical infrastructure  to see it as a sacrifice  for the good of all Nigerians. He said," Yeah, some of us are affected, no doubt about it. But some of us are not up to 0.1% of the millions of people that we enjoy the coastal road. That's why someone  like me and some others also have taken it to heart to also support Mr. President and the Honourable Minister to ensure that this road comes to life." He noted that the coastal highway  has the potential  to create  greater  vistas of opportunities  for  businesses and other human development initiatives that would  benefit a greater number of Nigerians.  He said,  "As humans, those affected  will feel  the pain, but the future  of the country  must be put first.And some of us are paying the price in good faith. So we are human, we feel the pain. But at the same time, if you look at the longer picture, you realize that it's the benefit of everyone. It's more than the benefit of one person. Yes, we are sitting on a lot of money, a lot of money being recouped here. But at the same time, it is not  worth the enjoyment or the free access of every other Nigerian that will apply the road. So Mr. Minister has already lectured me so well and has consoled me so many times."  The  demolition exercise  continues as the Committee of  the Federal Ministry of Works on  Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway,  Section  1 Compensation,  headed by  the  Federal Controller  of Works Lagos State, Engr. (Mrs.) Olukorede Iyabo Kesha. works round the  clock  to ensure  that payment  of compensation to the affected  property  owners begins in  earnest  in a matter of days. ...

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF WORKS GIVES ULTIMATUM TO CONTRACTORS HANDLING THE DUALIZATION  OF LOKOJA-BENIN ROAD,  OBAJANA  JUNCTION- BENIN IN KOGI AND EDO STATES TO SIGN THE REVIEWED CONTRACT OR FACE JOB TERMINATION - AS HON MINISTER DIRECTS THE MINISTRY TO WITHIN 7 DAYS  AUDIT ALL  ONGOING  PROJECTS, INCLUDING PERSONNEL  AND EQUIPMENT The Honourable Minister  of Works, His Excellency,  Sen. Engr. Dr. Nweze David Umahi CON has directed  the   contractors handling  sections I- IV of Lokoja- Benin, Obajana Junction- Benin roads in Kogi and Edo States to immediately  sign the new contract  as reviewed under the Renewed Hope administration  of  President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR or face the termination of their job by the Federal Ministry of Works in accordance with the condition of service.  This directive was given to the contractors  in a meeting  with the  representatives of  Mothercat  Ltd, CCECC Ltd, Dantata & Sawoe Ltd, CGC Ltd and RCC Ltd held on 25th April 2024  at the Ministry's Headquarters, Mabushi-Abuja.  He further directed  the Ministry  to, within  7 days , carry out a comprehensive audit of the ongoing  projects with a view to  knowing  the  status of work done, the capacity  of personnel  and equipment being used by the contractors. Speaking  during the meeting, the Honourable  Minister frowned at the pranks of the contractors who were part of the process of re-scoping and reviewing the contract specifications but failed to sign the review  contract  documents after signing that they would do the job based on the new specification.  He said “The project was initially N121 billion, but before the administration of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, the project was already reviewed to about over N870 billion.  When I came in as Minister, I saw that the project was over-bloated, and I refused to take the No Objection to FEC. I had to go through the road  myself, and I realized that some sections of the road could not survive asphalt.  So, we started meetings that took us over five months with all the contractors, and in the meetings, we agreed to re-scope the project. We re-scoped the project where we said okay, the new lanes should be done on concrete and the other ones done on asphalt.  We kept the contracts up and we all signed the documents and based on signing the documents, we took it to BPP and from BPP we went to FEC, and before we went to FEC, we demanded for them to approve that they can do the job.  They all gave us letters of approval.” He  wondered  why  contractors were given jobs without having the required manpower and equipment to do the job, and warned that henceforth any contractor signing a contract must sign alongside the basic rate and timeline.  He said,” So the position of the government is that if you are not signing the contracts between today and tomorrow, you will forgo the jobs. You can go to court. We will not enter into any condition for further negotiation.  This contract is over N2 billion per kilometer. You don't have equipment to do the work. Let me even assure you that if you are signing the contract, you will sign it alongside the basic rates. You sign it alongside the timetable, and you deploy in three sections, or I will terminate the job. Enough of playing with the psyche of the people."  He further stated that the Ministry would  not allow  any contractor  to hold the country to ransom or to impose their conditions  on the Ministry. "You don't want to work, leave the job. It's not compulsory that you must be the one to do the job. You cannot be on site, and the people are dying. The vehicles are falling down, and you're playing politics with the lives of the people. And we fold our hands and leave you for what? You can't be on site....So if you are not working, pack your things out of that site." In his remarks,  the Director,  Highways (SP) South, Engr. C.A Ogbuagu  gave account  of  the  technical processes undertaken by the Ministry before  Federal  Executive Council approved the  augmentation of the  project,  which the contractors accepted,  and letters of award were given to them. He wondered why the contractors refused  to sign the new document. He said," After the FEC's approval of the argumentation, the legal department was brought in so that this new contract will now be executed so that work will continue on site. So, for about two weeks now, the draft addendum has been with the contractors, and none of them has positively responded, except  RCC." The CGC in his reply, expressed commitment to the directive of the Hon. Minister and said, "for our side, and firstly for our section, and currently we are seriously working.  And secondly, we have a sent the draft to the Head Office And there is any issue, we have answered them and may be later tomorrow morning, we can get the approval from them so we can go ahead."  It is hoped that the other contractors will sign the new contract latest Monday 29th April, 2024. and mobilize effectively to the site.   ...

BODO-BONNY ROAD:  FG ORDERS JULIUS BERGER TO RETURN TO SITE WITHIN 14 DAYS OR FACE SANCTIONS The Federal government has ordered the contractor handling the Bodo- Bonny road construction to return to site within 14 days or risk appropriate sanctions. Works Minister, His Excellency, Distinguished Sen. Engr. (Dr) David  Umahi gave the marching order today at a meeting with the handlers of the road project, Julius Berger  PLC , as well as representatives of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas NLNG and Royal Fathers from Bonny Kingdom  and  other members of host  communities in Abuja. According to the Minister, the Bonny-Bodo road contract which was initially awarded at the cost of N120 billion in 2015, was later varied at N199 billion with a completion dateline of December 2023, which has since elapsed. The Minister deplored the unilateral stoppage of work by Julius’ Berger, describing the action as unacceptable. While rejecting in total, Julius Berger’s request for variation based on fluctuations in exchange rate and increasing cost of material, the Minister said government does not award contract based on exchange rate. He pointed out that no contractor will come to government for a downward review of the cost of any project if the exchange rate becomes one naira to one dollar, adding that government cannot anchor contract cost based on exchange rates variations. Senator Umahi was particularly unhappy that the timelines for the completion of the project were not adhered to, maintaining that if the project were  completed in December 2023,   as contained in the contract agreement , issues  of high exchange rate and increasing cost of materials would not have arisen ‘ He however promised that he would make a presentation to Mr President and commander in Chief His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu for a marginal augmentation to ensure that the project is completed on or before December 2024, particularly in the Spirit of the Renewed Hope Agenda and the love President Tinubu has for Bonny Kingdom and other host communities in the Niger Delta Region. Earlier in his presentation, the Managing Director, Julius Berger Plc    Engr Dr. Lars Richter called for the variation of the contract which he said has become necessary in view of the declining value of  the Naira and rising cost of construction materials in the country. The Managing Director drew the attention of the Minister to the time lag when the contract was awarded in 2015 when the exchange rate was N305 to a dollar, adding that the cost of building materials has since risen by over 1000%. Contributing, the Deputy Managing Director of NLNG, Olakunle Osobu pointed out that the contract which is being funded through the Tax Credit Scheme is intended to complement the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration, calling on all parties to the project to remain patriotic as well as make the necessary sacrifices for the actualisation of the project.     On their part, Roya Fathers of Host Communities led by Chief Abel Attoni, Palace Secretary, Bonny Kingdom expressed profound gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the decision of the Renewed Hope administration to ensure that Bodo-Bonny road is completed. His Royal majesty applauded the commitment of the Works Minister to the road project especially coming at a time the Nation is experiencing economic difficulties. ...