Over N840 billion has been approved by the Federal Government for the rehabilitation of the 82-km Section II of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano dual carriageway.
The sum, according to a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser (Media), Orji Uchenna Orji, included funds for the construction of the Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo Channel, Route 430, in Rivers State.
According to the statement, Minister of Works David Umahi made the disclosure at a meeting with representatives of the main contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, in Abuja.
Umahi enjoined the contractor to fast-track the completion of the projects in view of the premium placed on them by President Bola Tinubu.
According to the statement: “Julius Berger (Nig.) Plc was represented at the meeting by its Executive Director, Projects, Engr. Benjamin Bott and the Head of Contract Management, Omonigho Brown.”
The minister, during the meeting, explained that the Federal Executive Council, FEC, at its meeting of September 23, 2024, approved the re-scoping and downward review of the contract for the rehabilitation of the Abuja–Kaduna–Zaria–Kano dual carriageway in the FCT, Kaduna and Kano states, contract No. 6350 and the revised estimated total cost and augmentation of the contract for the construction of Bodo-Bonny Road with bridges across the Opobo channel, Route 430, in Rivers State, contract No. 6247, amounting to a total contract sum of seven hundred and forty billion, seven hundred and ninety-seven million, two hundred and four thousand, seven hundred and thirteen naira, twenty-five kobo (N740,797,204,713. 25) and eighty billion, seventy six million, three hundred and sixty-one thousand, thirty-six naira, thirteen kobo (N80,076,361,036.13).
Umahi also called on the contractors handling Federal Government’s projects on the need for corporate nationalism in price negotiation in the face of the daunting economic challenges facing Nigeria.
Umahi said that they have Section II, which is 82 kilometers by two, that is the section that Julius Berger is working on.
He stated that FEC had approved that the total contract sum within the scope of Berger would be N740 billion, meaning that if N391 billion paid already is removed, the outstanding will be about N340 billion, which is the scope of their work for the 164 kilometers.
He enjoined the contractor to mobilise in the four sections of the Abuja–Zaria–Kaduna–Kano project to finish the job within 14 months, stressing that the inflation rate and the current economic situation was taken into consideration before arriving at the decision.
“So, we are appealing to you not to try to increase the contract sum because it will not be possible. And we have written to the President to approve that if JBN Plc does not accept the N740 billion, we will terminate the contract. We have terminated some of their jobs because we’ve been negotiating sometimes for 12 months, 13 months,” Umahi said.
The minister stated that there must be an end to negotiation and expressed readiness to pay Julius Berger fresh mobilisation to underscore the interest of the President in the project.
He hoped they should be able to sign the addendum to the contract on Monday.
On the Bodo-Bonny project, Umahi said there was no issue, stressing that they have agreed on the N280 billion as the new contract sum that is fixed for a 12-month completion period.
He appealed to them to mobilise in a minimum of three locations, so that the job can be completed within 12 months.
