Works Minister David Umahi says President Tinubu has ordered the continuation of all NNPCL-funded road projects, warns contractors against delays and poor construction methods.
The Federal Government has announced a new policy that reserves all road construction contracts valued below ₦20bn exclusively for local contractors, in a move to strengthen indigenous capacity and ensure better accountability in Nigeria’s infrastructure sector.
The Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, disclosed this on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, during an inspection tour of the dualisation of the East–West Road (Section IIIA) from Eleme Junction to Onne Junction in Rivers State.
Umahi said the decision was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s directive that all ongoing projects funded by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) under the Road Infrastructure Development and Refurbishment Investment Tax Credit Scheme must continue without interruption.
According to Umahi, the ministry has compiled a list of all inherited NNPCL-funded road projects and submitted them to the President. He stressed that those located along key national economic corridors—such as the Eleme–Onne axis—would be given top priority “Mr President has graciously directed that none of such works should stop. We are going to prioritise the most critical projects and push them forward for immediate funding,” the minister said.
The works minister also issued a stern warning to contractors, condemning the practice of leaving binder courses uncovered for months without applying the wearing course, a method he described as destructive and unsustainable.
He directed federal controllers of works across the country to enforce strict supervision and ensure compliance. Any contractor who fails to meet contractual standards, he said, would face sanctions and scrutiny from anti-graft agencies.
Umahi further announced that henceforth, contracts below ₦20bn would not be awarded to foreign or expatriate firms, describing it as part of the administration’s “Nigeria First” policy.
Speaking on the ongoing Eleme–Onne road project, Umahi praised the quality of work delivered by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) but expressed disappointment with the pace of execution, noting that excuses such as heavy rainfall were not acceptable.
He reaffirmed December 15, 2025, as the final completion deadline, stressing that there would be no extension, price variation, or additional claims. “The quality is excellent, but the pace is not acceptable. This project can never be reviewed by a kobo,” Umahi warned.
Umahi also lamented the destruction caused by heavy-duty vehicles indiscriminately parking on federal highways, particularly between Aba and Port Harcourt. He vowed to engage state governors and the Inspector-General of Police to implement solutions. “Our roads are not designed to carry these heavy trailers. They are destroying pavements and undermining the President’s efforts to build roads that should last 50 to 100 years,” he said.
Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Mrs. Enwereama Tarilade, provided an update on the project. She revealed that RCC had completed 15km of the Eket-bound right carriageway and commenced work on the Port Harcourt-bound left carriageway, with 1km already laid using Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) technology.
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