FEDERAL GOVERNMENT APPRAISES PERFORMANCE OF ALL ON GOING PROJECTS AWARDED TO JULIUS BERGER, TASKS THEM ON TIMELY PROJECT DELIVERY In keeping  with the directive of the Federal Executive Council with respect  to all inherited and new projects being handled by a number  of multinational companies  being  delayed due to issues of price differentials or poor  funding, the Federal Ministry of Works has opened a decisive discussion with Julius Berger Plc on all the inherited and new projects handled  by them with a view  to appraising  their performance and take decisions on funding and milestones completion of all such awarded projects, as part  of the measures of the Renewed Hope administration to mitigate  the sufferings of road users at this moment of economic challenges.  This was the outcome of the crucial meeting of the Ministry with the management of Julius Berger Plc held at the Ministry's Headquarters, Mabushi-Abuja on 7th August 2024. Speaking on the resolutions reached  during  the meeting, the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi, CON reiterated  the firmness of the  Ministry on issues of price  control, commitment  of contractors  to project execution, value  for money, and uniform pricing location  by location. He decried the unacceptable conditions of some of the inherited and new projects of all ongoing federal roads awarded to Julius Berger Plc, which are within the economic corridor of the nation and which were being delayed due to issues of price differentials or lack of effective funding. He listed the projects affected to include: the 82km by 2 dualization of section of Abuja-Kaduna- Zaria- Kano Highway currently handled by Julius Berger; phase 2 of Lagos-Ibadan expressway, whose pavement elements had been changed from asphalt to concrete; section 2A bypass at the 2nd Niger Bridge whose pavement element was changed to concrete; the Bodo-bonny road funded by NLNG Tax Credit; the under deck structural works at 3rd Mainland bridge, Iddo bridge and Carter Bridge. The Honourable Minister urged the contractor to be open to a mutually agreed modality for milestone execution and funding of the projects at reviewed rates as may be agreed upon and approved by Federal Executive Council.  He said," Our job is to develop this mechanism based on FEC directives, and engage with the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, and finally we take our recommendations back to Mr. President, and of course FEC for consideration."  On  the  section of Abuja Kaduna- Zaria-Kano road agreed to be handled by Julius Berger Plc, he commended  the quality of work being done but directed  the contractor to stick to one carriageway at a time within the scope and conclude their works.  The contractor was further directed to, within three weeks, fill the two carriageways with stone base and level it to alleviate the sufferings of road users. He further said, "We agreed that this project, within their own corridor, will last for 14 months.  Project execution should be deployed in four sections, and we'll be paying Berger ₦20 billion every month to get the job completed. On the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, phase 2, he said the Ministry had no choice but to determine the contract and ask Bureau of Public Procurement for No Objection for selective tendering.  He recalled, "We changed the elements of the pavement from asphalt to concrete, and the total cost we came up with based on prevailing cost is ₦153 billion. But they are offering ₦258 billion. Since we've been on this since September 2023, we have no choice but to determine this contract.  And then we ask BPP for No Objection for selective tendering, whereby we will be sending our own advice of ₦153 billion to BPP, and we send their own of ₦258 billion to BPP, and then we invite other contractors to also bid.  This we will conclude within the next one month so that we can get that job concluded". On the Second Niger Bridge Bypass handled by Julius Berger Plc, he said, "one of the bypasses, which is 17.27kilometer by two on asphalt was awarded to Julius Berger.  We changed the pavement elements to concrete and the cost that we came up with was ₦133 billion. Berger almost gave us more than twice our cost, which is ₦279 billion. We have disagreed with this cost at the time of negotiation since September 2023.  We've also decided to get the project back to BPP and invite more contractors to bid because this is public fund". On the Bodo-Bonny project being funded by NLNG Tax Credit, the Honourable Minister expressed concerns that Julius Berger Plc, though had mobilized back to site after additional cost of N80 billon was approved for the work, but reports showed that their pace of work was slow. He was further  worried  that they came up with a longer timeline of 16 months within which  to deliver  the project  against the December 2024 deadline proposed  by the  Ministry.  He said,  "Finally, we agreed on an additional cost of ₦80 billion, which will bring the project to about ₦280 billion fixed and non-varying with the unit rates agreed, and we agreed that this project will not increase in cost beyond ₦280 billion".  He urged the contractor to shift ground to a shorter timeline for the sake of the people. Concerning the under deck structural works at 3rd Mainland Bridge, Iddo bridge, Carter Bridge in Lagos State, he commended  the contractor for  doing fantastic work.  He said," We have no problems on pricing. We've paid 30% due to the intervention of Mr. President.  They're working, and we've directed that each time they put a certificate and we still have funds, we will pay within seven days because this job they're doing is very critical.  For 53 years, those bridges were constructed, no maintenance, and so the deterioration is so horrible and frightening. Right now, we've closed the 3rd Mainland Bridge against big trucks. On the Odukpani road in Cross River State, he said, "We have got approval from Federal Executive Council to increase their project by ₦36 billion, thereby raising the project cost from ₦54 billion to ₦90 billion.  This was just approved for a few days ago. We want to know their response on that. Yes, we have agreed to change the pavement to concrete, and our position is that they have to engage on one carriageway when we agree on this.   It is when we agree on all these ones where that we do not have complete funding that we can enter into the second phase of what FEC directed, and that  is to discuss the mechanism". In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Yakubu Adam Kofarmata, PhD, stated that some of the ongoing road projects handled by contractors required emergency works to alleviate the sufferings of road users and assured that all the supervising engineers would be on their toes to ensure  that the Ministry's  policy of Operation Free our Roads was carried  out by all the contractors handling  federal government roads nationwide. On the section of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Highway handled by Julius Berger Plc, He said, "we have requested this emergency work due to the flow of information and the requests that we've been getting from Nigerians plying Abuja to Kano, more especially Abuja to Kaduna road, where a number of big craters have been created on that road". Hon. Barr. Orji Uchenna Orji Special Adviser (Media) to the Honourable Minister of Works   ...

FG COMMENCES WORK ON THE ABUJA- KADUNA- ZARIA- KANO HIGHWAY AND SETS TIMELINE FOR COMPLETION, LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE OPERATION FREE OUR ROADS In the avowed determination of the Renewed Hope administration of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to complete the dualization of the 375.9 km Abuja - Kaduna - Zaria - Kano Federal Highway, the federal government  has commenced  immediate work on the dualization of the uncompleted sections of the Highway from Abuja to Kano in North West Geo-Political Zone of the country. The Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON stated  this  during  the flag- off of the completion of the Abuja- Kaduna - Zaria - Kano Highway and the site handover  of the 38km dual carriageway section of the road to Dangote Group  of Companies at  chainage 0+000 Zuba on 27th July 2024. Speaking during the flag - off and handover ceremony, the Honourable Minister charged the three companies handling the three sections of the project to show absolute  devotion to the completion of the project, noting  that  the Ministry would look at the need for project rate review to cushion the effects of the increase in material costs, given the last review that was done about 9 months ago . He said, "So the first section is 38 kilometers by two, which is 76 kilometers.   The work is starting today, with palliatives and earthworks, and then they will now start to put reinforced concrete pavement"  The Honourable Minister used the opportunity  to launch the federal government's 'Operation Free our Roads', which is aimed at making  sure that all the Federal Roads under rehabilitation  are made motorable starting  from this rainy  season. He said, ".So we are using this as a point of contact to flag off Free our Roads all over the country.  And so, they will use stone base to put and free all the potholes. In failed portions or where we have potholes, they will all be filled, both carriageways.  Then, they will continue to maintain one carriageway for vehicles to follow while they consistently walk on one carriageway. He emphasized the need for the Ministry's engineers to take the task seriously, including those of FERMA" He stated, "And this operation, Free Our Roads, is not only for the Ministry of Works, but also for FERMA.  We're going to put our eyes, all the directors, and all the Zonal engineers of FERMA must take this thing very seriously." And so I will, on behalf of Mr. President, with all gratitude to God and the cooperation of everybody, flag off Operation Free Our Roads and flag off the completion of Abuja to Kaduna, to Zaria, to Kano road, to the glory of God. Amen. While at the section handledby Julius Berger Plc, the Honourable Minister commended  the contractor for already starting work and doing  a good job, and maintained  that the federal government expected  the entire  project to be completed  and delivered by May 2025. He said, "So what we will be discussing with Berger is what can we do to finish this job within May 29th. This is very important because we don't want to stay here beyond May 29th, 2025. And so what Berger cannot finish, we would also have to take it over and give to Dangote under Tax Credit and for reinforced concrete pavement."   ...

EAST WEST ROAD: PRESIDENT TINUBU'S ADMINISTRATION COMMITTED TO ENDING PAVEMENT FAILURES AND YEARS OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE NEGLECT IN THE REGION, SET TO DELIVER POPULAR ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WILL STAND THE TEST OF TIME In keeping with the Renewed Hope agenda of giving all regions the environment to attain their full economic potentials and guarantee a sense of self-actualization among Nigerians, the administration of His Excellency President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has introduced a more formidable measure of construction to end pavement failures and years of infrastructural neglect on the East West Road of South-South Nigeria. This was revealed  by the Honourable Minister of Works, His Excellency, Sen. Engr. Nweze David Umahi CON during his visit to the project  sites at East West Road section II: Kaiama-Ahoada in Rivers/ Bayelsa States; the construction of Multiple  Box Culverts at flood damaged locations along  the dualization  of East West Road handled by Messrs Rock Results Nigeria  Ltd and the dualization  of East West Road, Section II ( sub section II) handled  by SETRACO Nigeria Ltd dated 22nd July 2024. Speaking after the inspection of work progress, the Honourable Minister said that Federal Government redesigned the inherited ongoing project, using reinforced concrete technology to end the perennial pavement failures and years of road neglect across the wetland Niger Delta.  He said that some sections of the East-West Road starting from Lokoja to Benin were also rescoped and redesigned in reinforced concrete, and that the height of the road was increased above the flood level, and that the redesign factored the peculiar environment, geomorphology and soil characteristics which were responsible for the failures of flexible pavement used over the years by successive administrations.  On the Kaiama-Ahoada section, he said, "When we came on board, the job was already awarded by the past administration. And so, the only new thing in all these locations under President Tinubu is the relief culverts that these two local contractors are putting and are proving themselves to be of a very high reputation in terms of their works. We are encouraging many more local contractors to come and work, because there's so much to work." He observed that the impact of climate change was largely responsible  for the flood that came over the two sections of the road but commended the two contractors handling the relief culverts for their deep commitment to the intervention work despite having not been paid.  He stated, "And so our directive is that the contractor shouldn't open more relief culverts. Let us contain the floods by working with NDDC. And I commend the MD of NDDC for the fantastic work they are doing." He thanked Rock Results, who also did emergency works, even though it's outside the scope and the 29 Battalion with other paramilitary outfits for the management of the traffic which he said would  continue for the next two to four weeks.  While seeking for patience on the side of the road users, he assured that permanent solution was underway  as the project was being procured to raise the road above the flood level while reinforced concrete of 12 inches would be used to do the overlay. The Honourable Minister who also visited the KM 15 Section 3A of the East- West road (from Eleme Junction to Onne Port Junction) handled  by Messrs  RCC  Nigeria  Ltd, commended  the quality  of work being  done but urged the contractor to re-mobilize at least in 6 sections of the project to ensure timely  project  delivery or be prepared  to relinquish  the other carriageway for award to another  contractor. He stated, "It is Presidential order that this road should be given the maximum attention, and that's why he asked me to come and look at it, and then give him a report. So, we're looking at December for project delivery, but certainly not at the pace that RCC is going." While reacting to the statement credited to a Clergy, Buba Isa on the state of some federal roads, the Honourable Minister reiterated the commitment of the Renewed Hope administration in fixing all the inherited ongoing projects and backlogs of road infrastructure deficits nationwide orchestrated by  many years of neglect.  While commending President Tinubu for the glaring deference in road infrastructure under his administration which road users are attesting to, he called for patience and understanding as enduring solution to road failures had been reinvented  by the Renewed Hope administration and very soon Nigerians would enjoy sustainable infrastructure delivery.   ...