Engr. David Umahi, minister of works, has directed federal road contractors to halt the closure of project sites without authorisation, insisting that strategic highways and bridges must remain open during the holiday season and beyond.
Umahi also instructed directors in the federal ministry of works and federal controllers of works nationwide to suspend their holiday plans and remain on site to ensure ongoing projects do not obstruct traffic flow during the festive period.
The minister issued the directive on Tuesday in Abuja during an emergency meeting with directors and contractors, accusing some firms of abandoning sites under the guise of holidays despite worsening road conditions.
He said critical projects, including the Abuja–Lokoja expressway, Abuja drainage canals, and key corridors in Sokoto, Katsina and Kebbi states, must not be closed under any circumstances because of their strategic importance.
His words: “No contractor is permitted to close a site without the approval of the Federal Ministry of Works. Some sites must not close at all. Abuja–Lokoja cannot close.
“Some corridors are simply too critical. We would like some of our contractors who may be taking holidays to understand what is going on at their sites. Don’t close the roads. Open them for vehicular movements.”
Umahi admitted that recent disruptions on the Abuja–Lokoja highway embarrassed the government but appealed for patience, noting that emergency interventions were ongoing to restore traffic flow.
Describing the gridlock on the Abuja–Lokoja road as “very embarrassing”, the minister ordered further opening of the route to ease vehicular movement ahead of Christmas.
He also expressed concern over persistent congestion on the Enugu–Onitsha road, stressing the need for urgent and coordinated action by contractors and supervising officials to eliminate bottlenecks nationwide.
Umahi commended contractors for adopting President Bola Tinubu’s policy shift from asphalt to concrete road technology, describing the transition as difficult but necessary to improve durability.
“I commend you for agreeing to adapt to the new policy of Mr President on concrete road technology. Many of you even requested that your projects be changed from asphalt to concrete. That is not easy, but it is necessary,” he said.
The minister said asphalt roads often deteriorate within 10 to 15 years due to drainage failures and poor soil conditions, while properly constructed concrete roads last longer.
He announced a sweeping reorganisation of the ministry, saying directors and senior engineers would be redeployed to the field to supervise projects directly.
“Everybody is going to the field. Only the permanent secretary and I will remain in the office. Every director will supervise a major project and performance will be judged strictly by output,” Umahi said.
He warned that contractors handling inherited projects originally awarded under the Niger Delta Development Commission and similar agencies would now be paid by the ministry of works following a presidential directive.
“All inherited NDDC and related projects will continue, but those agencies will no longer pay you. The Ministry of Works will take over payment, and contracts will be re-scoped to what can realistically be delivered within nine months,” he said.
Umahi cautioned that advance payments would be recovered through banks if contractors failed to mobilise to sites, stressing that financial indiscipline would no longer be tolerated.
He disclosed that Tinubu had approved the payment of outstanding certified liabilities estimated at N263bn, adding that all claims would undergo fresh verification.
The minister said total outstanding certificates since 2020 stood at about N2.1tn and required reconciliation to eliminate inflated or unsupported claims.
Umahi also announced plans to digitalise project monitoring through zonal portals where contractors would upload site updates, valuations and certifications in real time.
He said the system would ensure project evaluations and certifications are completed within 48 hours, improve transparency and reduce delays.